MyGas Malaysian Gas Symposium

In Session Two of MyGAS 2026 on October 22, Dr. Rosa Permata Sari highlighted a challenge for Indonesia’s gas sector. Gas resources and major customers are often in different regions. Her presentation noted that 69% of Indonesia’s gas production went to domestic users in 2025, making the ability to move gas between regions especially important.

Java illustrates the problem. In 2024, West Java faced a gas shortfall of 144 million standard cubic feet per day, while East Java had a surplus of about 90 million. The network lacked a connection to move that surplus west.

Dr. Rosa used the Cirebon–Semarang (Cisem) pipeline to explain why the financing of missing links matters. The original concession was awarded in 2006, and the rights were returned in 2020 without construction having started. The government took over financing in 2021. Cisem I began carrying gas in 2023, and her presentation reported that Cisem II was fully operational in 2026.

For islands with smaller, dispersed markets, Dr. Rosa pointed to a planned LNG network in Nusa Tenggara. Starting in 2029, one LNG carrier is expected to serve five island power plants with a combined capacity of 477 megawatts. Demand from the plants would give the distribution network a dependable starting customer base.

Dr. Rosa also discussed affordability. She cited Indonesia’s regulated gas price of US$6.50–7.00 per MMBtu for selected industries and power producers in 2026. She argued that price relief should be targeted and time-limited, with a clear funding source and a plan to secure supply.

Cross-border cooperation offered another example. Sarawak has supplied electricity to West Kalimantan since 2016, and Natuna gas has been piped to Malaysia since 2002. Dr. Rosa pointed to these links as a basis for expanding bilateral arrangements with agreed rules on network access and tariffs.