The IAPMIGAS is divided into two membership types – company and individual. The company membership had a minimum of ten representatives as members. Now there are more than 150 members from many areas of the industry such as consultants, pipeline engineers, and oil and gas inspection companies.

The Association’s members collaborate to discuss ways in which they can improve the pipeline industry. This is done through an active discussion forum with members, looking at case studies and sharing the lessons learned from different projects. Members also form a strategic alliance for the sharing and utilisation of technology and maintenance systems.

Challenges to the industry

One of the key challenges IAPMIGAS sees facing the Indonesian pipeline industry is infrastructure development. IAPMIGAS Vice Chairman Gusti Azis said “It is clearly recognised that a lack of critical pipeline transmission and distribution infrastructure is preventing the supply of gas from resource-rich areas in Kalimantan and Sulawesi to key demand centres in Java and Sumatra.”

Article continues below…

Mr Azis adds that the main issues facing the industry in terms of maintenance and operation are existing ageing pipelines and corrosion.

“Ageing pipelines, both upstream and downstream, may create a higher risk of exposure to the overall Indonesia pipeline system and Indonesia is having problems replacing ageing infrastructure pipelines,” said Mr Azis.

“Pipeline leakage due to corrosion is a recognised problem, with an increase of incidents over recent times.”

IAPMIGAS also sees a need for the development of more environmentally friendly practices of constructing pipelines. “Knowledge is needed to provide the intellectual support for infrastructure decisions necessary to sustain economic growth and environmental quality,” said Mr Azis.

“There are many environmental concerns that need to be considered on pipeline construction sites, and these are regulated under an Act, decreed by the State Minister for Environment Republic Indonesia.”

Activities

IAPMIGAS had conducted several workshops on pipeline issues, including regulatory, maintenance and operation, and commercial concerns.

In addition, every two years, the Association organises the International Pipeline Conference and Exhibition, known to most in the industry as INDOPIPE, which was successfully held for the third time in 2010.

“The conference has become a major pipeline industry event in Indonesia, with government, producers and transporters meeting to discuss pipeline infrastructure development in order to secure gas supply within the area,” said Mr Azis.

Mr Azis added that in the future, the Association is also looking to provide training and certification for pipeline engineers. It is envisaged that this training would be recognised by national and international standards.

IAPMIGAS is also working to further its research and development and is considering joint co-operation with local university and international associations.

The future

IAPMIGAS hopes that industries and government can synergise in order to implement the Government‘s Master Plan of the National Transmission and Distribution Gas Pipeline. The plan, which was outlined in January 2010 by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, involves the development of thousands of kilometres of natural gas transmission and distribution pipelines across Indonesia over the period of 2010–25.