Avoid Dependence On Fuel, Government Geber Domestic Oil Production

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Arifin Tasrif. (Photo: Maria Trisnawati)

JAKARTA - The government is trying to avoid a high dependence on fuel exports by continuing to strive to increase domestic oil production by utilizing new technologies and finding new reserves.

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Arifin Tasrif said, in addition to increasing oil production, collaborative efforts with related parties to boost additional production continue to be carried out in existing oil and gas fields and still have the potential to produce additional productions such as in the Rokan Block, Cepu Oil and Gas Field, Masela and Tangguh 3 Field Train.

"We have made efforts to curb the decline in production. Now we are going to go further, namely how to increase production again," said Arifin, quoted on Saturday, March 2.

Arifin added that his party hopes that with the maximum possible output it can be generated from the Cepu Block. It is known that ExxonMobil Cepu Limited (EMCL) has again drilled 7 wells after 8 years without increasing the number of wells.

For information, of the seven wells that will be drilled this year, five of them are carbonate wells while the rest are plastic wells. The drilling of these 7 wells will be carried out throughout this year with the start of production projected in June 2024.

Arifin further added, apart from the Cepu Block, the Rokan Block is also being tested to get oil from the deepest layer sources.

"Our target is still very challenging to reach 1 million barrels, for that it requires the cooperation of all parties so that we can support this so that we can achieve it," said Arifin.

In the gas sector, continued Arifin, hope for a more visible increase in production. In addition to the operation of the 3rd tough train at BP, there were also executions for masela projects that had been delayed.

The new discovery of ENI in the Mahakam Block will also produce starting next year at 6.8 TCF of gas. There is also a new potential in the Andaman Block. There are two Andaman blocks that have indicated a new disclosure which is also quite significant, namely 2 x 6 bcf.