Pertamina Gas Subholding To Gasify 33 PLTD In Eastern Indonesia

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JAKARTA - Gasification of the Diesel Power Plant (PLTD) using natural gas continues to be carried out by Pertamina's gas subholding, PT PGN Tbk.

There are at least 33 PLTD that will be converted using natural gas. This is the implementation of the Decree of the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources No. 13 of 2020 concerning gasification of power plants assigned by Pertamina to PGN.

"According to the assignment from Pertamina, we have to complete the process of carrying out gasification, a total of 52 points, but we are starting at 33 points," said PGN President Director Haryo Yunianto in an official statement, Wednesday, January 19.

According to Haryo, PGN has accelerated the auction process for the procurement of goods to implement gasification for PLTD at 33 points in Eastern Indonesia. He is optimistic that all PLTDs will start operating using gas in mid-2024.

PGN, he said, is committed to supplying gas for the power plant needs for mineral processing and refining facilities (smelters) owned by the Indonesian Mining Industry Holding BUMN, led by MIND ID.

This commitment was marked by the signing of a memorandum of understanding (Head of Agrement/HoA) with MIND ID, as a partner for the utilization and development of gas infrastructure in all MIND ID group smelters.

"MIND ID is a partner for gas services and infrastructure for MIND ID and all of its subsidiaries," said MIND ID

According to Haryo, one of the power plants that will use PGN's gas supply is located in East Halmahera. That way the power plant which previously used fuel oil (BBM) is converted to use gas.

"One of our efforts until August is the smelter in East Hamahera, the power plant that we are currently preparing uses dual fuel fuel and gas," he explained. Commission VII DPR welcomes the expansion of the use of natural gas because it can reduce emissions. This is because gas is an environmentally friendly fossil fuel.

"That's one of the steps to reduce emissions, in principle we use fossil fuels. Therefore, we must use gas," said Chairman of Commission VII DPR, Sugeng Suparwoto.

According to Sugeng, gas should be utilized as much as possible domestically, but it needs to be supported by infrastructure development for distribution.

"The utilization of gas must be utilized as much as possible in the country, because it must build the infrastructure earlier," he added.