RI's natural gas production surpassing crude oil

Indonesia's natural gas production has continued to increase from year to year and is now replacing the position of natural oil production which is now declining, a legislator said.
Chairman of Commission VII of the House of Representatives (DPR) which deals with energy affairs, Airlangga Hartarto said Sunday that natural gas whose production was increasing would continue to become a strategic commodity in the future.
"The increasing volumes of gas and coal production will make these commodities to continue to be strategic in the future and to replace the position of oil which is declining," he said.
A hearing between Commission VII of the House and Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro on Wednesday agreed to include gas and coal production into the assumption of the 2009 state budget.
Airlangga said both sides agreed to include gas and coal into the assumption of the 2009 state budget because the state revenues from these two commodities were significantly big.
Minister Purnomo said in the past oil was a primary commodity but now its production was declining and its role had been replaced by gas and coals whose production was significantly increasing.
Data available at the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry revenues from these two commodities were significantly big.
Minister Purnomo said in the past oil was a primary commodity but now its production was declining and its role had been replaced by gas and coals whose production was significantly increasing.
Data available at the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry indicated that gas production in 2009 is estimated at over 10,000 million metric standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD).
This year's gas production is estimated at 9,946 MMSCFD.
Data show that gas production in 2007 was 8,901 MMSCFD and in 2006 it was recorded at 8,280 MMSCFD.
Gas domestic consumption also continues to increase where in 2006 gas exports were recorded at 64.97 percent while domestic consumption was 35.03 percent. In 2007, the portion of domestic consumption gas increased to 37.02 percent while that of exports dropped to 62.98 percent.
Purnomo said that the composition of gas exports and gas domestic consumption would be balanced at 50 percent this year. (*)

taken from the jakarta post, 22nd jan 09