JAKARTA – Western Java is one of work areas of PGN with the natural gas utilisation level at 500-550 BBTUD, whose service has been brought into industrial, commercial, and residential sectors in Western Java,

The natural gas utilisation also contributes positively in driving economy, which results in production efficiency in the industrial and commercial sector, as well as household retrenchment.

The Western Java operational area, located in three provinces including Jakarta, West Java, and Banten, is managed by PGN Sales Operation & Region II or PGN SOR II. The natural gas distribution covers 1,441 users of industrial and commercial sectors, who have used up 324.23 BBTUD, and 9 corporate users in the electricity sector, who have absorbed 201.25 BBTUD.

Not only that, the distribution of natural gas as clean energy is also directed to the household sector, amounting to 228,036 house connections and 786 micro users or MSME players.

“The advanced natural gas distribution n the Western Java area is supported by PGN’s integrated infrastructure, which includes gas pipe infrastructure, FSRU, and an aggregate of multi-channel, both gas pipe and LNG pipe. This is what provides reliability in natural gas distribution to users,” General Manager SOR II, Sonny Rahmawan Abdi, further explained on July 11.

In Western Java, 3,223 km of pipe extends from Banten to West Java, consisting of 1,811 km of steel pipes and 1,412 km of PE pipes. The pipe is backed with supporting infrastructures, including 351 division station and 3 offtake stations.

Those advantages convince PGN to initiate natural gas service penetration to Banten, thus managing to channel approx. 166 BBTUD of natural gas to households, minor, commercial, and industrial users, as well as power plants. This area, more specifically, is managed by Cilegon and Tangerang PGN.

“Cilegon Area, as of now, manages the biggest user base, consisting 50 users in the industrial sector with gas utilisation of 99.75 BBTUD. Meanwhile, household sector has 10,290 users. The areas include Cilegon and Serang,” Abdi mentioned.

Meanwhile, Tangerang Area covers Tangerang (city), Tangerang Regency, and South Tangerang. Total gas utilisation clocks up to 66.1 BBTUD, serving 30,050 residential users with gas utilisation level of approx. 0.38 BBTUD, as well as 336 commercial/industrial users with utilisation level of 65.72 BBTUD.

Abdi further claimed that there is a current growing trend in the natural gas management in Banten area. Within the past 5 years, it has increased 2.16%, in line with the economic condition and increased user acquisition from natural gas service and infrastructure expansion.

“The user growth in Banten area has been apparent, particularly in household gas network, since 2021. We will continue our effort to generate more massive increase, especially in Tangerang,” Abdi continued.

PGN will keep supporting economic activities in Western Java, including Banten, through the natural gas supply. This energy, which is a more competitive and greener alternative, may become the drive behind users’ production level and decrease the utilisation of fossil fuel and subsidised LPG. Moreover, there is also the importance of natural gas in this transition period and decarbonisation strategies as cleaner energy resource compared to other forms of fossil fuels. (PGN/ZH)