Gov’t Prioritizes Adequate Gas Supply to Meet Domestic Needs

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Arifin Tasrif at Presidential Palace complex, Monday (07/31) (Photo by: PR of Cabinet Secretriat/Shally)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo Monday (07/31) at the Merdeka Palace chaired a limited cabinet meeting on Grand Design on the Optimization of National Gas.

“The Government must prioritize gas supply to meet domestic needs. The Government must also ensure efficient operational so we can get competitive gas to support the development of domestic industries,” Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Arifin Tasrif said in his statement after attending the meeting.

According to Arifin, the Government continues to make efforts to carry out gas exploration and exploitation in a large scale, as well as to utilize its potentials in order to maintain gas supply for domestic industries.

The Minister also ensured that the Government will not prohibit the export of gas commodities even though the domestic needs have been met.

Arifin further said that national gas supply is still adequate, while underscoring that out of all domestic gas production supply, 67 percent of it has been optimized in the country.

“The remaining supply will be commercialized, exported in terms of LNG and gas pipe,” he added.

Arif further said that President Jokowi told the cabinet to evaluate the expense in gas production so it is expected that the gas price will be in line with production costs and will maintain competitive. (FID/UN) (AP/EP)