Indonesia has awarded two oil and gas exploration blocks to domestic firms as it seeks to increase gas production to meet growing energy demand, Reuters reported, citing the energy ministry’s director general of oil and gas.
The Paus working area in offshore East Natuna, with an estimated 2.5 trillion cubic feet of gas, was awarded to Blue Sky Paus Ltd, the director general, Tutuka Ariadji, said.
“The government hopes that with the appointment of bidding winner for Paus working area, this can contribute to Indonesia’s energy resiliency in the future,” he said.
The energy ministry is preparing six oil and gas working areas to be offered in a new bidding round next year, he added.
Once a member of OPEC, Indonesia become a net importer of oil in early 2000s as production dwindled. It is targeting reaching 1 million barrels per day of oil lifting by 2030.
