Minister Of Energy And Mineral Resources Brings Good News, Merakes Gas Production Increasing 777 Percent

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Arifin Tasrif revealed that the production of the Merakes Field managed by ENI Indonesia has increased in early 2023.

Arifin said that production from the field, which is located in the Kutai basin, off the coast of East Kalimantan, has reached production of 790 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD) or an increase of 777 percent from the previous 90 MMSCFD.

"Good news, yesterday's production of Eni Merakes increased from 90 to 790," said Arifin, quoted on Saturday, February 25.

Just so you know, this field is managed by an energy company from Italy, Eni East Sepinggan Limited, which holds 65 percent of the rights and cooperates with PT Pertamina Hulu Energi East Sepinggan (15 percent) and Neptune Energi East Sepinggan B.V. (20 percent).

With this increase in production, Arifin believes he will revive Bontang's supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

"So later the LNG in Bontang can live again. That is from Merakes production," concluded Arifin.

Previously, the Merakes Field was inaugurated by Arifin Tasrif in June 2021. The existence of this project worth 1.3 billion dollars is proof of the Government's commitment to increasing national natural gas production amidst the global challenges of the upstream oil and gas industry facing the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021. This also proves that the investment climate for oil and natural gas (oil and gas) in Indonesia is maintained.

The existence of the Merakes Field, continued Arifin, which is quite strategic about 35 kilometers (KM) Southeast of the Jangkrik Floating Production Unit (FPU), allows ENI to maximize synergies and increase the field economy with the nearest infrastructure.

"Production from this field can contribute to extending the operating life of the Bontang LNG refinery, which supplies LNG to the domestic and export markets," he explained.