TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - PT Pertamina Drilling Service Indonesia (PDSI), a subsidiary company of state-owned oil and gas enterprise PT Pertamina,will be operating a new drilling rig in Algeria. The rig with the name "PDSI#43.3/AB1500-E” is currently being produced by PT Citra Tubindo Engineering (CTE) and it is expected to be completed by October.

“We are very proud to use a local product. Besides efficient cost, its performance is also satisfying as has been proven at Block Cepu,” said Muhammad Husen, Pertamina's upstream director, in a written statement that was quoted on Sunday, September 21. The rig that is worth US$26.6 million is the state owned company's third order that is produced by CTE.

According to Husen, the rig's usage is a form of Pertamina's form of contribution in developing the national oil and gas industry's capability. The rig will be operated in Block 405a in Algeria. “This has become Pertamina's massive capital by carrying a rig that is locally produced to be operated in Aljazair,” he commented.

PSDI chief director Farid Rudiono said, after the rig is completed in October, its shipment will be carried out in November. The rig is expected to be operating at Block 405a Algeria in January, 2015.

AYU PRIMA SANDI