Indonesia to open exploration block tender

Jan. 23, 2001
The Indonesian government is preparing to issue a tender for 21 exploration blocks. The government took over concession-awarding tasks from the state-owned oil and gas company Pertamina this year.


JAKARTA�The Indonesian government is preparing to issue a tender for 21 exploration blocks.

The government took over concession-awarding tasks from the state-owned oil and gas company Pertamina this year.

Rachmat Sudibyo, director-general for oil and gas at the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, said his office would still work with Pertamina in calling the tenders, which will be similar to those handled by the state agency since the 1960s.

The government plans to offer six blocks in the Arafura Sea, six in the Makassar Straits, two in the Natuna Sea, two in the Seram Sea, two in East Kalimantan, two in South Sulawesi, and one in central Kalimantan, on Borneo Island.