Petronas Express Interest In Garap Blok Masela, How Is Pertamina's Fate?

Deputy Head of SKK Migas Fatar Yani Abdurrahman. (Photo: Mery Handayani/VOI)

JAKARTA - Oil and gas company (oil and gas) from Malaysia, Petronas expressed interest in entering the Abadi Square oil and gas project, Blok Masela.

Currently, Petronas is waiting for the government's commitment.

This was conveyed by Deputy Head of SKK Migas Fatar Yani Abdurrahman, after the 2022 International Convention on Indonesian Upstream Oil and Gas (IOG) press conference, Tuesday, November 15.

"There are those who offer soap operas, they are interested, we are still studying. Petronas is just waiting for the government's commitment," said Fatar.

Furthermore, Fatar said, Petronas had just expressed interest in being included in the Block Masela consortium with Inpex Corporation.

So the discussion on the mechanism and how much participation rights will be taken has not been carried out.

"Mechanism is still being said further. Just state that you are interested," he explained.

As is known, Pertamina is expected to participate in the process of taking over the Abadi Masela Block to replace Shell. However, until now Pertamina has not provided a non-binding officer to enter the Masela Block project.

"We don't know yet. They are still evaluating there are still many options," he said.

Previously, President Joko Widodo through the Minister of Investment/Head of BKPM Bahlil Lahadalia asked that 35 percent of the participation rights released by Shell in Blok Masela be fully taken by PT Pertamina (Persero) or national oil and gas companies through financing supported by the Indonesia Investment Authority (INA).

"The president has ordered that those who come out be replaced by national entrepreneurs either through INA or BUMN," Bahlil said during a press conference Wednesday, July 27.

Responding to this possibility, Head of the Special Task Force for Upstream Oil and Gas Business Activities (SKK Migas) Dwi Soetjipto said the government had special attention regarding Pertamina's possible involvement in managing the Masela Block.

"For a long time, Pertamina has always been asked by the President to be involved, encouraged to be involved in the development of the Masela Abadi Field and currently Pertamina is studying open data, we will wait for a response from Pertamina," he said in Jakarta, Monday, August 22.

Nevertheless, Dwi hopes that Pertamina can manage the Masela Block.

Because, by joining Pertamina, it will provide a sense of security for foreign investors to invest in the Masela Block.

"We hope Pertamina can participate there (Masela) because foreign investors, if the national players who participate, will certainly feel safer, so we hope Pertamina can enter," he said.