JAKARTA - PT Perusahaan Gas Negara Tbk (PGAS) continues to develop natural gas infrastructure to strengthen downstream oil and gas and national energy security. 

This step is in line with the government's strategy to reduce dependence on energy imports and increase added value to the domestic economy.

Todotua Pasaribu, Deputy Minister of Investment and Downstream/Deputy Head of BKPM, emphasised the important role of natural gas in downstream oil and gas. 

In response, PGAS continues to develop strategic programmes by building transmission and distribution pipelines to improve energy connectivity in various regions.

PGAS Director of Strategy and Business Development, Rosa Permata Sari, in an official statement, Thursday (6/3), explained that the company is building natural gas infrastructure to expand access for new users. With high potential demand, especially in Central and Eastern Indonesia, including from the smelter sector. ‘We are also developing infrastructure beyond pipelines such as LNG receiving terminals and LNG Hubs,’  Permata Sari said in an official statement, Thursday (6/3)

This infrastructure plays a role in increasing the storage capacity and supply of LNG from new gas fields in eastern Indonesia. PGAS is also exploring collaboration opportunities with industrial estates in the region for more efficient energy supply.

In addition to supporting the industry, PGAS also contributes to the reduction of LPG imports through the construction of household gas networks (jargas). 

This year, PGAS is targeting the construction of 200,000 house connections (SR), which has the potential to reduce LPG imports by 100,000 metric tonnes and save IDR 672 billion in energy subsidies per 1 million connections.

PGAS is also developing the utilisation of palm oil waste (POME) into biomethane in Sumatra. 

This biomethane, which is equivalent to natural gas, will be injected into the existing pipeline network, becoming a concrete step in the development of green energy in the future. (DK/LM)