Central Jakarta Prepares CNG Station Construction

Central Jakarta Sub-dept. of Industry and Energy plans to build gas refueling stations (SPBG) in some locations. This is done  following an increase in gas fueled (CNG) demand.

Moreover in the Central Jakarta there is only one mobile refueling unit (MRU) now in Monas Park, Gambir. At least 1,000 units of bajaj filling CNG in this location every day.

Head Section of Energy for Central Jakarta Sub-dept. of Industry and Energy, Bungaran Purba, said one of the obstacles to build SPBG is the lack of land availability. To solve that, his side will use two CNG filling concepts.

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"The first one is mapping the existing pipeline gas in Central Jakarta and where the nearest gas station, so we can built the gas station there," said Purba, Saturday (12/20).

According to Purba, this concept will ease entrepreneurs in providing a gas station. If they bring the gas through vehicle, the operational costs should become very high. It is because the gas must be compressed into high pressure to the tube filling and need a high cost.

"The second way we deliver it via MRU, as in the Monas. So the station can be moved anywhere. If the locations less profitable, it can be shifted to another location," added Purba.

Contacted separately, Jakarta Industry and Energy Department Head, M Haris Pindratno said, besides facing difficulty of obtaining land, his side also difficult to find investors.

"This could be CNG profit is not as high as BBM. Starting CNG business needs big money," said Pindranto.

Currently, the price of gas fuel is at Rp 3,100 per liter. This price is difficult to be accepted by investors because they can not cover the cost of the initial investment. While the initial investment cost for one unit of SPBG is between Rp 16-20 billion.

The solution is raising the gas price. But the proposal to raise the price of gas to the central government is not easy.