Indonesia considers limiting gas exports

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JAKARTA, July 6 (UPI) -- Indonesia's government is considering imposing a moratorium on new natural gas exports.

The move, if implemented, is designed to reserve output for the indigenous market as the country's first priority.

Indonesia's Energy and Mineral Resources Oil and Gas Director General Evita Legowo told journalists, "We want to start considering natural gas not only as a source of revenue, but also a fuel source to meet our domestic demand," the Jakarta Globe reported Thursday.

BP's 2012 global energy report concluded Indonesia's natural gas proven reserves over the past two decades have soared by 67 percent to 3 trillion cubic meters.

In 2011 Indonesian natural gas production was 75.6 billion cubic meters, an increase of 19 percent from 10 years previously, while domestic consumption expanded during the same time by 22 percent to 37.9 billion cubic meters.

Indonesia's government has been strongly criticized for failing effectively to utilize its vast natural energy resources in the global market.