Bahlil Asks Prabowo's Restu Evaluation Of Mangkrak Oil And Gas Block Permits In Natuna Kepri

JAKARTA - Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Bahlil Lahadalia, asked President Prabowo Subianto's blessing to evaluate a number of oil and gas (oil and gas) blocks around the Natuna Sea whose permits have been owned for a long time but have not yet been operational.

According to him, the 'swelling' blocks still hold additional production potential of 5,000 to 7,000 barrels per day.

This statement was made by Bahlil when inaugurating the inaugural production of the Forel and Terubuk Oil Fields, part of the South Natuna Working Area (WK) Blok B in Riau Islands Province, Friday, May 16, 2025.

Bahlil said that the evaluation step was needed to support the achievement of national production targets and accelerate the realization of energy sovereignty.

"We ask for permission from the President, if the President is willing, we will evaluate these permits for us to return them to other Cooperation Contract Contract Contractors (KKKS) in order to increase lifting, to lead to energy sovereignty in accordance with what was ordered by the President," Bahlil said as quoted from his written statement, Saturday, May 17, 2025.

As a basis, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has issued Decree of the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Number 110.K/MG.01/MEM.M/2024 concerning Guidelines for Returning to Potential Unworked Working Areas.

The regulation regulates the criteria for abandoned blocks, including non-production fields for two consecutive years, PODs other than the first one not being worked on for two years, as well as a disclosure structure that has not been followed up in three years.

In the regulation, the criteria for the working area (WK) of the potential oil and gas that have not been worked on include production fields that have not been produced for two consecutive years or there are fields with plans of development (POD) other than the first POD that have not been carried out for two consecutive years.

In addition, there is a structure in the exploit WK which has received a disclosure status and has not been carried out for three consecutive years.

"Through the President's blessing, I believe that the evaluation and rearrangement of the KKKS permit is expected to accelerate the management of abandoned oil and gas blocks, boost production, and realize national energy sovereignty," he said.

Previously, President Prabowo Subianto inaugurated the inaugural production of the oil project from the Forel and Terubuk fields in the South Natuna Sea Block B Working Area (WK), Riau Islands, Friday, May 16, 2025.

"By saying bismillah, this afternoon, Friday, May 16, 2025, I am Prabowo Subianto, President of the Republic of Indonesia, inaugurating the inaugural production of the Forel and Terubuk oil fields. Thank you. Good luck. Once again free," Prabowo said in his remarks, Friday, May 16, 2025.

Prabowo stated that he was proud of the achievements of the nation's children who succeeded in making their first production on Medco's field.

Not only that, he admitted that the inauguration of the project was the first inauguration in the field of oil and gas lifting during the new government he led.

"This project is an important milestone, a historic milestone and our joint efforts to achieve national energy self-sufficiency," said Prabowo.

The two projects have a total investment of 600 million US dollars and were able to create jobs of approximately 2,300 people during the construction period.