Jakarta (ANTARA News) - State-run oil and gas company PT Pertamina (Persero) plans to improve gas infrastructure and facilities to augment the national gas industry and meet the renewable energy production target.

Gas Pertamina Director Yenni Andayani said at an energy forum here on Wednesday that the plan would include development of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal and a floating storage regasification unit (FSRU).

"Currently, the construction of an FSRU in Cilacap is underway. It will have a production capacity of 200 million cubic feet per day (mmscfd), and will reach the fuel oil conversion target in 2018," Yenni added.

In the transportation sector, she noted, Pertamina is operating 56 gas stations, including mobile refueling units (MRUs) in Jakarta and its surrounding areas, such as Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, Bekasi, besides Palembang, Semarang, and Balikpapan.

Yenni informed that Pertamina was ready to invest in the upstream renewable energy sector.

The company would need US$1.5 billion of capital expenditure for renewable energy management up to 2019, not including geothermal energy.

A renewable energy sector analyst with the International Energy Agency, Heymi Bahar, said the growth in electricity demand, the dependency on fossil fuel import, as well as air pollution and environmental problems have encouraged the development of renewable energy sector in Southeast Asia, including Indonesia.

He underscored the need to expedite the development of such energy by pursuing comprehensive policies and ensuring a synergy between the government and business operators.

The Directorate General of Renewable Energy and Energy Conversion should push Pertamina to sustain development of renewable energy, he argued.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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