Deputy ESDM Minister Studies Floating Storage for Gas Supply

Jakarta, (Antara Sumbar) - Deputy Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Minister Arcandra Tahar will further study the functions of a Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU) as a strategy for meeting the country's gas requirement.

Tahar was accompanied by Director General of Oil and Gas Ego Syahrial and Deputy Head of Upstream Oil and Gas Regulator (SKK Migas) Sukandar during a visit to the Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) facility or FSRU of PT Nusantara Regas located in Jakarta Bay on Thursday.

During his visit, Tahar highlighted the importance of LNG as Indonesia's future energy source.

"Indonesia, in future, needs FSRU's technology, and we will plan how the future needs of Indonesia are to be met," he said.

Meanwhile, President Director of Nusantara Regas Tammy Meidharma said the FSRU Nusantara Regas is the first in Southeast Asia. As a pioneer in FSRU operations, Nusantara Regas remains committed to supporting the fulfillment of the national gas requirements not only for the electricity sector but also for industries.

Our biggest customer at this time is state-owned power company PLN, and we are committed to providing the best service in gas distribution to PLN's power stations, in particular, to support the achievement of the 35-thousand megawatt project," Tammy said.

In addition, he explained that PLN is preparing to meet the gas requirement of the industrial sector, especially for the western part of Java.

FSRU Nusantara Regas, since it became operational in 2012, is capable of supplying a maximum of 500 million cubic feet per day of gas to three power plants: PJB Muara Karang, IP Tanjung Priuk, and PJB Muara Tawar.

The Bontang and Tangguh LNG refineries supply gas at a temperature of minus 160 Celsius. The gas is supplied by LNG vessels to be stored in the FSRU and re-certified with a propane facility until it turns into gas.

In 2017, Nusantara Regas has estimated that it will distribute LNG to 28 cargoes, or equivalent to 225 Billion British Thermal Units per Day, to meet the needs of the PLN power plant in Jakarta Bay and the industrial areas in West Java. This figure is four percent above the target set for 2017. (*)

Editor: Vicha Faradika