US ExxonMobil Team Visiting Government
Tuesday, 30 January, 2007 | 12:57 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: ExxonMobil Oil Indonesia Inc has stated that up until today it is still discussing with the government and the Upstream Oil and Gas Executing Body (BP Migas) about the gas field management of Natuna Block D-Alpha.

Some senior officials from ExxonMObil from Houston, the US, are now visiting Indonesia to hold a meeting.

Maman Budiman, a spokesperson for ExxonMobil Oil Indonesia, said that the arrival of the ExxonMobil senior officials was in line with the discussion of the new Natuna contract with the government.

“We have complied with the government's request and are ready to hold a meeting that will benefit both parties,” he told Tempo yesterday (01/29).

According to Maman, the ExxonMobil team was led by the Vice President of ExxonMobil Exploration, Greenlee.

As regards the deadline of the Natuna contract negotiation, he said that he still remained uninformed.

“As early as possible, I hope,” he said.

Previously Ari Soemarno, the Managing Director of PT Pertamina (Persero), said that the state-owned oil & gas company demanded a larger ownership portion for managing the Natuna Block.

“A minimum of 50 percent,” he said.

According to him, Pertamina is giving other companies the opportunity to cooperate.

“We have not any problems with ExxonMobil. In addition, we have so far been in partnership at Natuna,” he said.

Ari explained that Pertamina had signed a memorandum of understanding with various multinational companies for developing the company’s businesses.

“They included StatOil, Petronas and Shell,” he said.

Pertamina stated that the ExxonMobil contract at Natuna Block D-Alpha will automatically end in January 2007.

According to Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro, the gas field will be declared an open area.

The proven gas reserves of Natuna Block D-Alpha amount to 42 trillion cubic feet.

ExxonMobil managed the gas field with Pertamina with an ownership composition of 78:24.

ALI NUR YASIN