Today, The Cisem Pipe In The Semarang-Batang Section Is Ready To Distribute Gas

An illustration of a gas pipe (photo: dock. Antara)

JAKARTA - The construction of the Cirebon-Semarang (Cisem) natural gas transmission pipeline is one of the National Strategic Projects (PSN) which aims to increase access to natural gas for national development is planned to start flowing gas today, Friday 17 November.

This project is a breakthrough because for the first time the natural gas transmission pipeline was built directly by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) through APBN financing.

With this direct role of the Government, the toll fee or cost of transporting gas through the Cisem-1 Gas Pipe is lower, only around USD 0.3 per MMBTU. This transmission pipeline is expected to increase accessibility to natural gas consumers to be able to enjoy more affordable and competitive gas prices, thus encouraging industrial growth and increasing purchasing power.

The flow of natural gas through the Cirebon-Semarang Phase 1 natural gas transmission pipeline (Cisem-1) to the Kendal Industrial Estate is planned to be witnessed by the Director General of Oil and Gas and related Stakeholders. The Cisem Phase 1 project has a length of 60 KM with a pipe diameter of 20 Inchi.

With the flow of gas in the Cisem-1 Pipe, the industries in the Kendal Industrial Estate can enjoy a decrease in gas prices. Today's flow will be done in the first five industries.

After the gas flow in Kendal, then the gas from Pipeline Cisem-1 will also flow to the Batang Integrated Industrial Zone after the Batang Offtake Station construction is completed at the end of November 2023 which is also through APBN financing.

The industrial potential in the Kendal and Batang areas can reach around 40 industries, with a projected initial gas requirement of around 30 mmscfd (first 5 years), and can increase by more than 58 mmscfd.

In addition to industry, the Cisem Pipe will also provide added value for the community through gas for households after the completion of Phase 2 Cisem Pipelines, it is hoped that there will be gas potential for the City Gas Network (Jargas) at least 5 mmscfd or around 300,000 households.

The flow of Cisem-1 gas is an important milestone in the development of the national natural gas industry, because it will be continued with the construction of the Cisem Phase II pipeline for the Batang to Kandang Haur Timur Cirebon section next year. Then a Dumai-Sei Mangke gas pipeline will also be built with a length of 400 KM. If the project is completed, then the gas transmission pipeline from Sumatra to Java will be fully integrated.

The connection of the Sumatra-Java gas transmission pipeline will encourage increased domestic gas consumption and reduced gas exports. So that the domestic portion of gas, which is currently around 65 percent, can increase. This is part of the roadmap for energy transition policies, where natural gas acts as a "transition energy" or bridging fuel.