Pertamina Hopes to Strike More LNG Import Deals This Year

Indonesian energy company Pertamina is hoping to close deals to import 1-2 million tons of LNG annually from a supplier in Africa or the United States, reports news agency Reuters.

In December, Pertamina signed its first LNG imports deal. The company inked a deal with Cheniere Energy for the supply of approximately 0.8 million tons of LNG per year for 20 years, starting 2018. 

The South East Asian nation is witnessing a surge in demand for the fuel amid declining domestic output.

"We have approached gas producers there (Africa and the U.S.) and we expect we will get a deal from one of them this year," Harry Karyuliarto, director of Gas Pertamina, told reporters on Friday, adds Reuters. "They said they will be ready to supply us at the start of 2018."

The imported LNG would be used to supply Pertamina's Arun refinery in Aceh, says Reuters.

According to Karyuliarto, Pertamina is looking to sign more import deals as it needs at least 3 million tonnes of foreign LNG a year. 

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