"We continue to respect the existing contract with Japan. Only after the contract expires will the government assess domestic gas supplies," Industry Minister MS Hidayat said here Wednesday.
He said the government would prioritize gas supplies to the domestic industry.
"The government wants gas demand from the manufacturing sector fulfilled. Only if there is gas surplus can we export it to Japan," he said.
Gas supplies were among investors` concerns to invest in the country, he said.
"South Korean tire manufacturer PT Hankook Tire Co Ltd plans to invest around US$1.1 billion in Indonesia until 2018 but gas supplies to the company still fall short of its needs," he said.
To resolve the issue of domestic gas supplies the country did not need to wait for the construction of adequate infrastructures to distribute gas, he said.
"Should we prioritize gas supplies to the domestic industry, we do not need to wait for adequate infrastructures to distribute it," he said.
(SYS/S012/B003)
Editor: Suryanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
