The Jakarta Post: Gas-rich Indonesia to Import LNG for Electrification Program

Despite claims of having abundant natural gas resources, Indonesia plans to start importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) to be able to run its ambitious 35,000 megawatt (MW) electrification program. 

The country will start importing LNG in 2019 as demand for natural gas is expected to skyrocket within the next decade due to a high number of gas-fueled power plants to be constructed, according to the Upstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Special Task Force (SKKMigas). 

“Existing data show that we can barely fulfill existing demand and it seems that in 2019 we will have to start importing. This will reverse what we achieved in the past. We were one of the first countries to export LNG,” SKKMigas spokesman Taslim Z. Yunus told reporters on Thursday. 

According to the data, national production of natural gas reached 6,650 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) between January and June 18, 2.8 percent higher than production targets in this year’s state budget.  MORE