The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry inaugurated a gas network to serve 24,000 households in Surabaya, East Java, on Sunday.

The government assigned state-owned gas firm PT Perusahaan Gas Negara (PGN) to construct the network, which stretches 196 kilometers and is worth Rp 221.9 billion (US$16.7 million),

Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Ignasius Jonan said in a press statement that the development of gas networks was one of the main priorities of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s administration.

“Development of any sort in order to encourage more equality is amazing. Our priorities include basic homes, basic low-cost apartments and regions that need to boost efficiency,” he said at the inauguration ceremony at the Penjaringan Sari low-cost apartments in Surabaya.

Up to 0.6 million metric square cubic feet of gas per day (mmscfd) is sourced from PT Pertamina Hulu Energi (PHE) West Madura, and the pipes are spread throughout East, Central and South Surabaya.

Since 2009, the government has built gas networks for 185,991 households in 14 provinces. Before Sunday’s official launch, Surabaya had gas networks for only 2,900 households.

source: thejakartapost.com