Masela Block Progress, Director General Of Oil And Gas: Pertamina Seriously Partners Inpex

Illustration of the refinery (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - PT Pertamina (Persero) is considered serious in offering to become an Inpex partner to manage Masela Oil and Gas Field.

Director General of Oil and Gas of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Tutuka Ariadji said that currently both of them are still in the B2B process. Now, it has passed the non-binding over, now it has entered the binding over.

"So it can't be said whether it's fixed or not, but the progress is still ongoing," said Tutuka at the Energy Corner, Monday, February 27.

Tutuka continued, Pertamina's progress in entering Masela was quite smooth and the government was also enthusiastic about waiting for the results of the agreement between the two parties. He also believes that Pertamina's entry process can occur this year.

"I think the progress is quite good. We are enthusiastic to see how this development can be completed this year," continued Tutuka.

Meanwhile, Pertamina President Director Nicke Widyawati, who was met recently, said that in the near future Pertamina would submit a proposal.

"God willing. This will be positive, the target is like that," said Nicke, who was met at the Indonesia Stock Exchange Building, Friday, February 24.

He also hopes that this process can run smoothly so that the entry process to Masela can be carried out immediately and can strengthen national energy security. "Hopefully it will run smoothly because our gas resources are large and must be used as well as possible in the country," concluded Nicke.

Previously, on a separate occasion, the Head of SKK Migas Dwi Soetjipto said that in April Pertamina would submit a proposal to take 35 percent of the participation rights.

"Pertamina will only submit its proposal in April," Dwi told the media.

Just so you know, Blok Masela has a huge potential for gas reserves, reaching 10.73 trillion cubic feet (Tcf).

Therefore, Blok Masela is often referred to as an eternal gas field. The government claims that gas reserves in the Masela Block will not run out for the next 70 years.