Jakarta, Dec 7 (Antara) - The recent government's decision to raise
subsidized fuel oil prices virtually earns it a momentum to promote its
oil-to-gas conversion program for transportation as it creates a big
margin between gas and fuel oil prices.
"The price per liter of premium (gasoline) equivalent gas is only
Rp3,100, far lower than the price per liter of premium gasoline sold at
Rp8,500 and that of diesel oil at Rp7,500. With a far price difference,
consumers will be attracted to use gas for their vehicles and that gas
will become an alternative energy for the people," Irwan Andri, the
spokesman of state-owned gas distributor firm PGN, said on Sunday.
Therefore, the PGN is ready to help the government develop and promote
the use of gas in the transportation sector and is ready to increase the
number of its gas refueling stations (SPBG) to support the government's
fuel oil-to-gas conversion program.
Irwan Andri said his company was optimistic that fuel oil-to-gas
conversion would develop following the government's decision to raise
subsidized fuel prices on November 18, 2014.
"The increase in the fuel oil prices will encourage consumers to switch to using gas," he said.
On November 17, 2014, President Joko Widodo announced the increase in
the price of premium gasoline to Rp8.5 thousand per liter from Rp6.5
thousand and that of automotive diesel oil to Rp7.5 thousand per liter
from Rp5.5 thousand.
Following its oil price increase announcement, the government was
immediately called on by observers to implement soon its oil-to-gas
conversion program for transportation. "The fuel oil price hike is a
momentum for the government to immediately and seriously continue
implementing its oil-to-gas conversion program," energy observer Komaidi
Notonegoro of the ReforMiner Institute, said.
He said the government could seriously develop its gas for
transportation program with a clear target such what it had done in the
past when launching the kerosene-to-gas (liquefied natural gas)
conversion program.
Pri Agung Rakhmanto, Komaidi's colleague, also voiced the same
expectation. He said that the government of Joko Widodo - Jusuf Kalla
should keep its promise. When they campaigned they promised that they
would implement the oil-to-gas conversion plan.
"The implementation of the gas conversion program is a must," said Pri Agung.
This program if implemented will reduce the importation and the use of
fuel oils while at the same time reduces subsidies which so far are
considered to have burdened the state budget.
After all, gas is Eco-friendlier compared to fuels. Admittedly,
businesses lack interest in investing on this sector, yet the government
could offer certain incentives to attract them, Komaidi argued.
Komaidi said the first step that the government could take to attract
the interest of state-owned and privately run enterprises is to raise
gas price.
The price increase of premium gas to Rp8,500 per liter makes it
possible for the government to raise the gas price. The price per liter
of premium equivalent gas which is set at Rp3,100 is less attractive to
investors.
"Investors see that the Rp3,100 price is not
attractive enough," he said adding that the government can consider
raising it to Rp5,000 per gasoline equivalent liter gas. I think this
rate is a moderate increase as compared to the premium gasoline price of
Rp8,500 per liter," said Komaidi.
The price of Rp5,000 is attractive enough to businesses while on the other hand it is acceptable to consumers.
"Private companies can get incentives if they involve in the
development of gas development for transportation," he added.
In the meantime, Transportation Minister Ignasius Jonan suggested that
foreign investors could also be involved in the oil-to-gas conversion
development program.
"State-owned oil/gas firm Pertamina and
Royal Dutch Shell can build gas refueling stations (SPBG) so that it
will be easy for consumers to refuel their vehicles," remarked Minister
Jonan in a discussion with reporters at the Transportation Ministry
Building recently.
In this case, the minister however suggested that the Ministry of
Energy and Mineral Resources and the National Energy Council (DEN)
should discus it.
"We have to sit together with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral
Resources, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Industry, the
Ministry of Transportation and the National Energy Council to discuss
the matter," he said.
However, according to Haryajid Ramelan, the chief of the Indonesian
Stock Analysts Association (AAEI), the PGN plays an important role in
supporting the government's oil-to-gas conversion program.
"As a gas distributor, PGN plays an important role in supporting the
program. Furthermore, the company has good infrastructure," Haryajid
stated at a seminar titled "The Disappearance of Fuel Subsidy and Its
Impact on Gas Industry in the Eyes of Market Agents" in Bandung, West
Java, on Friday.
The oil-to-gas conversion program could also save state budget funds, he observed.
"The declining fuel subsidy will improve the state budget," he added.
The national gas production currently stands at some three trillion
cubic feet per day. This high gas production may serve as one of the
reasons for the government to support its future energy policy, he
noted.
With regard to the PGN role, the PGN spokesman, Irwan Andir, said his
company was ready to increase the number of its gas refueling stations
(SPBG) to support the government's fuel oil-to-gas conversion program.
Irwan explained that PGN would carry out two ways in increasing the
number of its SPBGs. Firstly; it will develop an online pipe
distribution and a mobile refueling unit (MRU) systems.
Currently, the PGN has three units of SPBGs consisting of three online
stations operating in Ketapang (West Kalimantan), Bekasi and Bogor (West
Java) and four MRU operating in the National Monument area, Pluit dam,
Cawang and Cengkareng (Jakarta).
The other SPBGs which will operate soon this month (December) are
located in Surabaya (East Java) and Cilegon (Banten). "We supply gas to
SPBG partners in Jakarta," Irwan stated.
Later, he said, his company is planning to expand the areas of its
coverage by developing additional SPBGs in a number of regions such as
Jakarta, Bogor, Bekasi (West Java), Surabaya (East Java), Cilegon
(Banten) and Batam (Riau Island).
Secondly, the PGN will increase the number of its SPBGs by developing
integrated stations with public fuel refilling stations (SPBU), he said.
Irwan said that PGN is ready to partner with the owners of SPBUs whose
locations are near to PGN's gas pipeline distribution networks.
"Currently, there are 73 SPBUs in Jakarta whose locations are near to
PGN's pipeline distribution networks. Later, PGN will install gas
dispenser facilities at the SPBUs so that consumers can refuel gas
there," the PGN spokesman stated.***2***
(T.A014/b003/B003)
(T.A014/A/A. Abdussalam/Bustanuddin) 07-12-2014 17:24: |
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