Pertamina to supply CNG for public transportation<\/p>\n
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Despite the huge losses it incurs in producing compressed natural
\ngas (CNG), state-owned oil company PT Pertamina says it is still
\nwilling to supply the product to public transportation operating
\nin the city.<\/p>\n
Didik Wiryadi, head of Pertamina's Domestic Market Division,
\nurged the city administration, however, to first implement Bylaw
\nNo. 2 of 2005 on air pollution to the fullest.<\/p>\n
The bylaw, which was endorsed in February but which will take
\neffect only next year, requires all public transportation and
\ncity-owned vehicles to use CNG.<\/p>\n
According to Didik, only 2 percent of the CNG allocated for
\npublic transportation is currently being consumed across the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
"We are allocating nine mega million standard cubic feet
\n(MMSCF) of CNG for vehicles per year, but only around 1.5 MMSCF
\nis used, mostly in Jakarta," Didik told The Jakarta Post on
\nMonday.<\/p>\n
According to Didik, CNG consumption had continued to decline
\nover the past few years. CNG consumption reached 14.74 million
\nliters in 2004, down from 17 million liters in 2003, 19.52
\nmillion litters in 2002 and 21 million liters in 2001.<\/p>\n
The slide in sales had resulted in losses of around Rp 24
\nbillion (US$2.67 million) per year as operational costs for
\nPertamina were much higher that turnover.<\/p>\n
Ideal annual sales of CNG, according to Didik, should be
\naround 60 million liters per year.<\/p>\n
The falling CNG consumption had prompted Pertamina to close
\ndozens of CNG stations in the capital and across the country.<\/p>\n
There were 17 CNG stations in the Greater Jakarta, but only
\nten were still operating. Nationwide, there were 21 CNG stations,
\nbut only 12 were still working.<\/p>\n
Didik said his company was still discussing a memorandum of
\nunderstanding involving Pertamina, the Jakarta administration and
\nPT Perusahaan Gas Negara (PGN) on CNG distribution for public
\ntransportation vehicles operating in the capital.<\/p>\n
PT PGN is responsible for distributing gas produced by
\nPertamina through gas pipelines.<\/p>\n
Didik stressed the need for the city administration to be
\nserious in enforcing the bylaw, and in particular to require
\npublic transportation vehicles in the city to use CNG in order to
\ncreate market certainty.<\/p>\n
He said the private sector would only invest in constructing
\nCNG stations in the city if there was market certainty.<\/p>\n
"Pertamina will not construct any more CNG stations in the
\ncity if there is no guarantee of a market. We would welcome the
\nentry of other investors who are interested in establishing CNG
\nstations," he said.<\/p>\n
Environmentalists have long campaigned for the use of natural
\ngas as a transportation fuel as it this would reduce the problem
\nof pollution caused by vehicular emissions.<\/p>\n
They say that the 80,000 public transportation vehicles
\noperating in the city represent a captive market for CNG if the
\nadministration consistently required them to use CNG for the sake
\nof air quality in the capital, which is currently the third most
\npolluted city in the world.<\/p>\n
CNG stations in Greater Jakarta.<\/p>\n
1. Jl. Sumenep, Central Jakarta<\/p>\n
2. Jl. Pemuda, East Jakarta<\/p>\n
3. Jl. Raya Pluit, North Jakarta<\/p>\n
4. Jl. Warung Buncit, South Jakarta<\/p>\n
5. Jl. Margonda Raya, Depok<\/p>\n
6. Jl. Jl. Boulevard Timur, Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta<\/p>\n
7. Jl. Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta<\/p>\n
8. Jl. Daan Mogot, West Jakarta<\/p>\n
9. Jl. Raya Bekasi KM 28, West Bekasi<\/p>\n
10. Jl. Tebet Timur, South Jakarta<\/p>\n
Source: Pertamina<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pertamina-to-supply-cng-for-public-transportation-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }