TEMPO.CO, Bandung - Speaking at the 95th Anniversary of Indonesia's Engineering School at Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Indroyono Soesilo said that recent exploration activity has revealed new oil and gas reservoirs in the pre-Tertiary basement from the Mesozoic era.

"It's a new chapter of oil and gas exploration in the country," Indroyono said on Friday, July 3, 2015, at Bandung Institute of Technology.

According to Indroyono, geologists predicted that the oil reserves amounted to 222 billion barrels.

"Most of it can be found in the pre-Tertiary basement in Eastern Indonesia," Indroyono added.

The country's geotectonic condition has resulted in areas enriched with minerals, oil and gas, particularly at the bottom of the ocean. Indonesia's oil deposits can be easily found in eastern coast of Sumatera, north of Java and Bali. Currently, Indonesia holds about 7.4 billion barrels of oil reserves and 149 trillion cubic feet equivalent of gas reserves.

"It was recorded that 40 out of 60 oil and gas fields are located in the ocean," the Minister said.

Indroyono also highlighted important roles played by science and technology to build Indonesia as a maritime country. One of the initiatives to realize the vision is to build a Techno Park in Penajam, East Kalimantan.

Indroyono called on ITB alumni to be actively involved in the country's maritime development.

"Without science and technology, the ocean is just a pool of blue water," Indroyono said.

ANWAR SISWADI