Block Masela Diserbu Investor, China To Malaysia Interested In Entering

Head of SKK Migas Dwi Soetjipto. (Mery Handayani/VOI)

BALI - Oil and Gas Company (Migas) from China, PetroChina Company Ltd. to a Malaysian oil and gas company, Petronas is interested in entering the Masela Block located in the Tanimbar Islands, Maluku Province, Indonesia. Following that, Shell left who originally wanted to work on the project. The interest of Chinese to Malaysian companies was confirmed by the Head of the Special Task Force for Upstream Oil and Gas Business Activities (SKK Migas), Dwi Soetjipto. Dwi said there were about 4 companies that had been discussed. However, Dwi has not disclosed the details of who the companies interested in entering. Regarding the plan to enter an energy company into the Masela Block, Dwi emphasized that it needs to be communicated with the Japanese Inpex as an operator in the Masela Block. "It is quite a lot, for example, our explicit indicates that there are 3 or 4 such, but each of them has its own requirements that must be collaborated with Inpex itself," he said on the sidelines of the IOG Convention 2022, in Nusa Dua, Bali, Wednesday, November 23., the latest is a company from China, Petrochina, who is reportedly interested in working on the Masela Block. Dwi confirmed the news, including news of Petronas who are equally interested. "(Petrochina) Including. Petronas included," he explained.

Furthermore, Dwi targets that by the end of this year there will be a final decision of the company entering Blok Masela, narrowing 35 percent of the rights of participants (participant interest) Shell. Dwi reiterated that all parties interested in entering the Masela Block must have discussions with Inpex as the operator there. Dwi also admitted that he encouraged other companies to work on it.

"We have encouraged others to join in if indeed later we can speed up investment, so we encourage it, but we will attach everything to the index," he said. Sugeng explained that collaboration needs to be done because this energy BUMN also has priority projects that are currently running, such as the Balikpapan Refinery Development Master Plan (RDMP) project and the Cilacap RDMP. "So it is ideal if BUMN enters, in this case Pertamina, it is able to be both technically and financially good. RDMP also needs big costs," he said. For your information, Blok Masela is in demand by many investors after companies centered in the Netherlands, Shell leaves the area.