Indonesia, US, and Japan conduct trilateral workshop on LNG

JAKARTA, Mar 6, 2019, ANTARA News. The US and Japanese Embassies in Jakarta collaborated with Indonesian Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry to conduct the first trilateral workshop on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to promote energy partnerships in a free, open Indo-Pacific, reported the ANTARA.

The trilateral workshop on LNG was held in Jakarta on Tuesday and opened by President Director of the Japan External Trade of Organization Keishi Suzuki along with Deputy Chief of Mission of the US Embassy in Jakarta Heather Variava and Charg? d`Affaires of the Japanese Embassy in Jakarta Keichi Ono.

Through the workshop, the United States and Japan are committed to assisting Indonesia in developing LNG by promoting US and Japanese companies, as the main providers of LNG infrastructure and finance in Indonesia.

Hence, the workshop discussed several proposals regarding LNG business opportunities in Indonesia, the problems being faced and the necessary supporting measures to enhance cooperation between Japan and the United States to be implemented within the framework of assistance between the Japanese and US governments.

In addition, the workshop aims to provide opportunities for Japanese, US, and Indonesian companies to meet and expand networking among them.

Nowadays, gas has taken on an important role in Indonesia`s energy mix. The country aims to reach an aspirational target of 22 percent gas in the energy mix by 2025 and 24 percent by 2050. This target has been stipulated in the national energy policy, according to Head of Special Task Force from the Upstream Oil and Gas Business Activities (SKK Migas) Dwi Soetjipto.

“The Government of Indonesia has put in its best efforts to provide energy security through appropriate energy policy by providing a guarantee of the four elements of availability, accessibility, affordability, and sustainability in the country,” Soetjipto noted.

He remarked that in terms of gas, the Government of Indonesia has stipulated current gas regulations in the procedure of allocation, utilization, and pricing.

Since 1977, Indonesia has been a significant player in the world gas business. In the 90s, Indonesia was the biggest LNG exporter globally, with an almost 40 percent share of the LNG exports. In fact, Indonesia was still among the top five LNG exporters in 2017, while Indonesia`s top LNG consumers by share respectively being Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China, and the United States.

The Asia-Pacific holds 9.4 percent of the world`s gas reserves wherein China holds 2.9 percent and Indonesia holds 1.53 percent of the world`s gas reserves.