Jakarta (ANTARA News) - State electricity company PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) is looking into the possibility of gas supplies from Australia, Papua New Guinea and Qatar to meet its gas needs, its president director said.

"We will select which of them will offer the best price," PLN President Director Dahlan Iskan said in the Vice Presidential Palace compounds here on Thursday.

Earlier, the state power utilities also explored the possibility of gas supplies from Iran. The company was in the middle of negotiating with Iran on gas price, he said.

It seemed that Iran was serious about supplying gas to PLN, he said.

"The negotiations are still going on. Last week, an Iranian delegation came to Indonesia, meaning that they (Iran) are serious about supplying gas to PLN," he said.

The Iranian delegation`s visit to Indonesia came after PLN officials visited Iran some time ago to explore the possibility of gas supplies.

Dahlan said PLN was also in the process of bidding for gas supplies from Qatar. However, he stopped short of revealing the bidding price. "I don`t want to comment on it because this is trade," he said.

He said PLN was in dire need of additional gas supplies following the government`s plan to reduce energy subsidies next year.

PLN needs an extra gas supply of 600 billion British thermal unit per day (BBTUD) to meet its gas needs of 900 BBTUD.

"We have 300 BBTUD now. We need another 600 BBTUD," he said.
(T.M041/S012/H-NG)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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