Pertagas Supports the Government to Develop CNG to Replace Elpiji

Pertamina Gas Corporate Secretary, Sulthani Adil Mangatur. (Photo: Maria Trisnawati/VOI)

CIKARANG - PT Pertamina Gas (Pertagas) conveyed its readiness to support the government's program in the transition of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).

Pertamina Gas Corporate Secretary, Sulthani Adil Mangatur, said that this readiness is focused on providing gas pipeline infrastructure that has been connected as the backbone (backbone) of national energy distribution.

"So the principle later when we are asked to take it down, we will be ready to support, also seeing our role, for example, as the infrastructure," he said when met at the Tegalgede Gas Compressor Station (SKG), West Java, Wednesday, July 8.

He added that his party was still monitoring the development of the program initiated by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM).

Moreover, he continued, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources is still conducting a trial or piloting related to the standardization of CNG cylinders for household needs.

"Now, talking about what the technicalities are, maybe we have to see later from (the Directorate General of) Migas itself, related to whether the decision is, or also the business mechanism for travel, later we will see from the government like what," explained Sulthani.

Sulthani said that Pertagas' involvement in this program will depend heavily on the distribution scheme set by the government and the Directorate General of Oil and Gas (Migas).

According to him, CNG requires special handling, ranging from compression stations to certain gas supply points.

Regarding infrastructure readiness, Sulthani emphasized that Pertagas has an adequate pipeline network. Currently, Pertagas' backbone pipeline has been integrated from the central Sumatra region to East Java.

Furthermore, he emphasized, if the existing pipeline network is expected to be the main capital to support the smooth distribution of CNG if the program is officially implemented widely.

"In terms of pipes, mostly if we talk about what was conveyed earlier, from Central Sumatra to East Java, yes, we have connected the pipes. As a backbone pipe, yes," he said.

As previously reported, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources involved the Ministry of Industry and the National Standardization Agency (BSN) in the development of CNG gas cylinders for a capacity of kg.

"This safety aspect is not only from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, but also from the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Manpower, and BSN which issued the standard," said Director General of Oil and Gas (Dirjen Migas) of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Laode Sulaeman as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, May 13.

Laode said that safety aspects were one of the most important aspects in ensuring the implementation of CNG as an alternative to 3 kg LPG.

The government is preparing stages of implementing CNG as an alternative to LPG to meet household gas needs.

Laode aims for CNG to replace 3 kg cylinder LPG starting this year to reduce dependence on energy imports.