Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The government plans to allocate Rp230 billion in funds to develop gas networks in five cities in the country this year, an official said.

The five cities were Prabumulih, Jambi, Cibinong, Cirebon, and Kalidawir, Director General of Oil and Gas at the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry Evita Legowo said after monitoring urban gas networks in Palembang, Surabaya and Tarakan through a video conference here on Tuesday.

"We will build at least 16,000 gas connections to households in 2012," she said.

In addition, the government would also complete detailed design of gas networks in six cities next year. The cities are Sorong, Balikpapan, Subang, Lhoksemuawe, Semarang, and Cilacap, she said.

She said the government also planned to develop gas networks in nine cities at a total cost of Rp450 billion.

In 2013, the government would build gas networks in the five cities of Sorong, Balikpapan, Subang, Lhokseumawe, and Semarang.

The design of gas networks in Samarinda, Muara Enim, Lampung, and Pekanbaru would be made in 2013, while construction of the gas networks would be started in 2014. she said.

She said every city in the country was expected to have urban gas networks at two villages with 3,000-4,000 connections at each of the villages. (*)

Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
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