TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - State gas company PGN aims to turn the city of Batam in Riau Island into a city of natural gas. The company believes that the city's reliable energy supply will attract investors to the area.
"Since 2004, we have continued to build a natural gas distribution network to customers in Batam. PGN supplies directly to industries, commercial businesses, power plants and households," PGN director for infrastructure and technology Dilo Seno Widagdo said in a written statement, Wednesday.
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So far PGN has served 3,497 household customers, 53 commercial customers, and 43 industrial and power generation customers in Batam.
Dilo said the company plans to complete the WNTS transmission pipeline project at the Subsea Tie In-Batam (SSTI-B) to Pemping Island. This project was assigned by the government.
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Once the gas pipeline is installed, PGN Batam will have an additional energy capacity of 40 billion British thermal units per day (BBTUD). The volume of natural gas can be increased up to 100 BBTUD in following years.
According to Dilo, with its huge gas reserves Batam can attract more foreign investors to improve the island's economy, as well as nearby areas like Bintan Island. The capital inflow will be able to be used for developing commercial, industry, and electricity sectors as one the area's economic pillars.
DANANG FIRMANTO