REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BALI -- Indonesia requires an investment worth US$20 billion to build gas infrastructure in the next 15 years in a bid to maintain national energy security, an official stated.

"Huge investment is needed to develop gas infrastructure, so all stakeholders should be involved. A total investment of US$20 billion is required in the next 15 years," Director General of Oil and Gas for Indonesia's Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) IGN Wiratmaja Puja stated during a workshop of national gas stakeholders here on Monday.

Wiratmaja remarked that funds worth US$8.5 billion would be utilized for constructing pipelines, US$8 billion for developing regasification terminals, US$1 billion for natural gas filling stations (SPBG), and US$2.5 billion for city gas.

"Indonesia has tremendous natural gas potential. However, the lack of infrastructure has disrupted the distribution of gas to all provinces in the country. As a result, it cannot be maximally utilized," he pointed out.

Therefore, the government has urged all stakeholders to exploit gas to develop the local economy.

Meanwhile, the government has formulated a roadmap of the nation's gas infrastructure. Unfortunately, the realization remains largely concentrated in western Indonesia.

"The policy should be cleared to develop infrastructure in the western and eastern Indonesian islands," he affirmed.

"The workshop is expected to provide inputs and solutions to ensure better governance of oil and gas resources, particularly natural gas. The solutions are needed to develop gas infrastructure to meet the country's electricity needs," he added.

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