PLTGU PRIOK NEEDS 220 BBUD OF ADDITIONAL GAS

Jakarta, Sept 30 (ANTARA) - Thermal and gas power plant (PLTGU) Tanjung Priok still needs additional gas supply amounting to 220 billion British Thermal Unit per day (BBUTd), director of the plant operator said.

"We still need a supply of that amount," President Director of PT Indonesia Power (IP) Tonny Agus Mulyantono said at a function to commence the channeling of gas from state-owned gas distributor company PGN to PLTGU Priok this week.

PGN began to channel gas to PLTGU Tanjung Priok on Monday amounting to 30 Billion British Thermal Unit per day, or equivalent to 30 million million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD).

Tonny said his side still needed 180 BBUTd for his firm's PLTGU in block I and block 2, one of which was PLTGU Priok, and in 2012 another supply of 100 BBUTd would be needed when block 3 was already completed.

He said that it was expected that later when in full operation the supply to PLTGU in block 1 and 2 would reach 210 BBTUd and in block 3 120 BBTUd.

PGN director Michael Baskoro said meanwhile his firm would do its best to find new gas sources in South Sumatra to supply PLTGU Tanjung Priok.

"We are still looking for approval and if we are successful we will provide additional supply for Indonesia Power," he said.

Mulayantono said that PGN gas supply PLTGU Tanjung Priok would help the state save up to Rp95 billion per month.

Tonny Agus Mulyantono at the launch of the first gas supply to PLTGU Tanjung Priok on Monday said that the Rp95 billion of money that could be saved would be used for the state.

"We will use the fund for the state even though we do not rule out the possibility for it to be used as a corporate saving fund owing to the fact that fuel oil prices in the world market are still fluctuating," Mulyantono said.