Management Of WK Pertamina EP Diverted For Aceh

Oil and gas illustration (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Arifin Tasrif approved the transfer of the management of parts of the Pertamina EP working area (WK) in Aceh to the Aceh Oil and Gas Management Agency (BPMA). This is through a carved out mechanism (returning part of the region).

"Alhamdulillah, and we are grateful to say, this approval is of course a motivation for BPMA in optimally managing the upstream oil and gas industry in Aceh," said Head of BPMA Teuku Mohamad Faisal quoting Antara, Thursday, June 8.

The Pertamina EP WK is a working area that extends from Aceh to Papua with Pertamina EP as the operator.

Some of the returned areas include several oil fields such as Rantau, Perlak, Kuala Simpang Barat, and Kuala Simpang Timur fields.

Faisal said, based on the letter of the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, the provisions regulated through the carved out mechanism, namely the management of the new working area as a result of carved out are the affiliates of PT Pertamina EP.

Furthermore, calculating the same economic value as the contract for the profit-sharing of the Pertamina EP WK, and it is not permissible to add a new burden of obligations for Pertamina EP affiliates who will become new WK managers of carved out results.

"With the approval given by the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, it will increase the number of WKs that are under the authority of the BPMA," he said.

Faisal said, before the approval was given, BPMA had conducted FGDs with various related parties such as the Legal Bureau of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, PPBMN of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Directorate General of Oil and Gas of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, SKK MIGAS and Pertamina EP, which took place from March 30 to April 1, 2022.

After the FGD, a series of discussions continued and proceeded in an effort to harmonize and find the best mechanism for implementing the provisions of Article 160 paragraph (1) of Law Number 11 of 2006 concerning the Government of Aceh, and Article 90 letter (b) of Government Regulation Number 23 of 2015 concerning Joint Management of Oil and Gas Resources in Aceh.

Currently, there are four WK exploitation and three WK exploration under the supervision of BPMA as a government agency formed in the context of joint management of upstream oil and gas in Aceh.

"The current BPMA authority area covers the land of Aceh and the sea around Aceh up to a 12-mile limit from the outermost coastline. Meanwhile, those outside the 12-mile limit are still under the authority of SKK Migas," he said.

On this occasion, Faisal also thanked the Aceh Government for continuing to support BPMA in realizing the transfer process.

"Thank you, we convey to all stakeholders who have supported this process," said T Mohamad Faisal.

Meanwhile, BPMA Deputy Planning Muhammad Mulyawan said, the potential or level of oil and gas production from the transferred working area has not been confirmed so far because it is still in the process of signing the contract.

"Still in the process, all data (oil and gas potential) will be submitted when the new contract has been signed," said Muhammad Mulyawan.