Total, Pertamina Discuss Cooperation Opportunity
21 April 2015 20:42 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Operator of the Mahakam Block, Total EP Indonesie, has opened an opportunity to work with state-owned oil and gas company PT Pertamina (Persero). General Manager of Total EP Indonesie, Hardy Pramono, said that meetings have been conducted to discuss the issue.
"We have talked about work area swap. Total is operating in 120 nations. We'll see [if it is possible to swap] several blocks in Africa, and possibly Canada," Hardy said.
Syamsu Alam, Director of the Upstream Division at Pertamina, said that cooperation with foreign blocks will be useful not only for the company, but also for Indonesia. Owning foreign oil block can help to secure domestic oil reserve.
Total EP Indonesie and Inpex Corporation's contract on Mahakam Block will end on December 31, 2017. The government has appointed Pertamina as the new block operator, once the contract is over.
Both the government and Pertamina hoped that the transition process could take place one year before the contract ends. However, the contract does not include a provision on transitional period, causing Total to insist on holding its ground.
BERNADETTE CHRISTINA MUNTHE
