TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - State-owned oil and gas company PT Pertamina (Persero) has established a partnership with Kalla Grup subsidiary PT Bumi Sarana Migas to develop an integrated energy terminal megaproject worth Rp10 trillion in Bojonegara, Serang District, Banten. Two foreign companies will also be involved in the development of the project, namely Tokyo Gas and Mitsui.
Sayed Junaidi Rizaldi, executive director of energy watchdog 98 Institute, considers that the cooperation will improve Indonesia’s capacity in securing domestic gas supply, particularly in West Java. “We now have to monitor its business transparency and accountability. The key is that Pertamina as an SOE must not suffer loss,” he said in a written statement on Tuesday, November 22, 2016.
Data from Pertamina shows that West Java suffered gas deficit of 315 MMscfd in 2015. The figure is expected to triple to 962 MMscfd by 2025.
According to Sayed, the appointment of Pertamina as the off-taker of the refinery’s products indicates that the company holds a key role in gas (LNG) supply in the future.
He expects Pertamina to become the operator of the megaproject. “The reason is simple: Pertamina is very experienced in operating refineries. All large refineries are operated by Pertamina,” he explained.
Pertamina spokeswoman Wianda Pusponegoro said earlier that the company was ready to become the off-taker in the megaproject so long as it becomes a shareholder. Moreover, Pertamina also expects to be appointed as refinery operator.
The integrated energy terminal complex in Banten will house LNG receiving terminal and regasification, a new refinery, and a thermal power plant (PLTGU) with a capacity of 1,000 MW to 2,000 MW. The entire project will be developed outside of Pertamina master plan: Refinery Development Master Plan (RDMP) of four existing refineries and two new Grass Root Refineries (GRR).
The megaproject is expected to operate by 2020, in which LNG receiving terminal will be the first to roll out. In the first phase, LNG terminal will have a capacity of 500 MMscfd. The capacity will be increased to 1,000 MMscfd in the second phase.
SETIAWAN ADIWIJAYA