JAKARTA - The government has set the coal gasification project in Tanjung Enim, South Sumatra, to become a national strategic project (PSN). This was conveyed by Apollonius Andwie, Corporate Secretary of PT Bukit Asam Tbk (PTBA), in a press release quoted on Tuesday (2/12).
He said that the determination of the project was stated in Presidential Decree No.109 / 2020 which was signed by President Joko Widodo on November 17, 2020. "In the previous Presidential Decree, the coal gasification project was designated as a national priority project," he said.
According to him, the status of coal gasification project as a PSN was a good sign and a big help from the government to optimise the use of Indonesia’s natural resources. The coal gasification is processing coals into dimethyl ether (DME) to be used as an alternative to LPG.
This project is developed and implemented by PT Bukit Asam Tbk (PTBA), PT Pertamina (Persero), and Air Products and Chemicals Inc as investors with investment value around US$ 2.1 billion. The coal gasification plant will turn 6 million tons of coal per year into 1.4 million tons of dimethyl ether (DME). (LK/VA)