PGN Gandeng Inti Kembangkan Smart Meter Gas Network

From left to right, : Sigit Arimurti-Manajer PLN UP3 Menteng, Doddy B. Pangaribuan-General Manager of PLN UID Jakarta Raya, Stephanus Oscar-CEO EDGE, Den Tossi Ishak-Director of PT EDGE. (Photo: Doc. PGN)

JAKARTA - PT Perusahaan Gas Negara cooperates with PT Industri Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Persero) (INTI) in collaboration with developing natural gas usage equipment (Smart Meter) Gas by customers of the household gas network automatically.

This development is in order to support the gas network development target as many as 400,000 Home Connections (SR) in 2022.

"In principle, the two companies have agreed to accelerate production, so that by the end of December 2022 gas network infrastructure has been digitized," said PT INTI (Persero) President Director Edi Witjara in an official statement, Monday, September 12.

Edi added, from the intense communication that was established, PGN Group received the view that the track record of PT INTI (Persero) in the production of Smart Meter Gas with a domestic component level (TKDN) above 40 percent would be a comprehensive synergy.

Moreover, PT INTI (Persero) has a Smart Meter Gas production facility with an installed capacity of 4,000 units per shift per month, which still provides exploration space to increase its monthly capacity.

In addition to production facilities, PT INTI (Persero) also has calibration facilities that can calibrate 12 Smart Meter Gas units simultaneously, to ensure that the device meets international standards.

Meanwhile, PGN's Director of Infrastructure and Technology, Achmad Muchtasyar, said the breakthrough was to implement the digitization of natural gas usage calculations which were directly connected to PGN's integrated billing system.

The high-tech gas meter unit can be implemented in both prepaid and postpaid payment models.

"This smart meter will replace the manual meter recording by PGN officers for households and MSMEs. By using domestic products, this procurement will increase the use of TKDN at least 45 percent," said Achmad.

PGN Director of Sales and Operations Faris Aziz added that the household segment is the customer who contributes the largest amount and growth for PGN.

Until the second quarter of 2022, jargas was realized 711,179 SR spread across 17 provinces in 67 cities/districts.

"The smart meter implementation still ensures that gas usage measurements are recorded in real time and accurately and customers can access measurement results through the PGN Mobile application. From this automatic recording, it can also make it easier for family financial management related to gas bills every month," explained Faris.

Security has also increased with the existence of additional smart meters, because gas usage will be monitored and recorded automatically.

This can minimize physical contact during a pandemic because officers do not need to come to their homes to register manually.

"Another smart meter advantage is to enable and make it easier for PGN to analyze the big data, which will clearly see consumer behavior so that it supports the speed of business decision making and service improvements to customers," explained Faris.

According to the General National Energy Plan (RUEN), the construction of the gas network is intended for 4.7 million household connections or the equivalent of 0.7 million tons of LPG in 2025.

PGN is ready to build one million SR jargas in stages.

PGN Commissioner Christian Siboro said the benefits of jargas 4.7 million household connections are to absorb 390 thousand workers, reduce LPG imports, up to 676 million kg, save the state budget up to Rp6.58 trillion per year, and support community economic growth.

"Earth gas is also the cleanest fossil fuel. The use of one million SR per year can reduce carbon emissions by 60,000 tons of CO2 per year," he said.

Meanwhile, another PGN Commissioner, Warih Sadono, added that in addition to collaboration with the government, PGN also collaborates with BUMD and other private partners, both through pipes and non-pipelines.

"This joint effort is one of the steps to optimize the use of domestic natural gas wealth. The use of gas for household consumption does not burden the trade balance as well as support national energy security," he concluded.