TEMPO.CO, Sorong – Maluku and Papua recorded declining gas production to 1,249 million standard cubic per day (MMSCFD), while oil production from both regions dropped to 15,500 barrels of oil per day (bopd), according to Upstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Special Task Force (SKK Migas) head for Papua and Maluku regions, Enrico C.P. Ngantung.

In 2013, gas production in Maluku and Papua reached 2,323 MMSCFD, accounting for 26.2 percent of the total national gas production. At the same time, oil productivity was at 16,408 bopd, contributing 1.9 percent to the national production.

Despite the declining oil and gas production, Enrico is optimistic that gas contribution from the area to the national gas production in 2014 will be similar to last year’s.

“The contribution is similar, which is 26 percent,” Enrico said on the sidelines of media gathering event hosted by SKK Migas in Sorong, Papua, on Friday, September 19, 2014.

Enrico also believes that gas productivity in Maluku and Papua will increase as two other contractors, Genting Oil and Inpex, will soon begin operations. Genting oil is expected to start production in 2017.

Meanwhile, Enrico said, oil production from both areas would not be significant to the national production.

“We’re too small. The big player is Chevron with around 300,000 bopd,” Enrico added.

MARTHA THERTINA