Pertamina Says Cepu Block Is Nation's Future

Surabaya, E Java (Antara Bali) - President Director of state-owned oil and gas firm Pertamina  Dwi Sutjipto said the Banyu Urip oil field in the Cepu Block located in East and Central Java is the future hope of the nation.

"This is a historic event, with this crude lifting, the nation's oil and gas supply will increase. The lifting from Banyu Urip will meet 25 to 30 percent of the national oil supply," Dwi said after officiating the maiden crude lifting at the Gagak Rimang Floating Storage and Offloading (FSO) facility, here on Sunday.

He said that up to now, the oil production of the Banyu Urip field has continued to increase reaching 80,000 barrels per day and by the end of the year it is expected to increase to 165,000 barrels per day.

"The production accounts for 25-30 percent of national oil output. We can cut import and reinforce our energy resilience. Because we still import 50 percent, this additional production will be very meaningful," he said.

He said that it is from the Cepu Block the projects in other blocks will be continued and to be completed based on the guidance of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and the SKK Migas oil and gas regulator.

"What we are witnessing today is proof that ExxonMobil can become a leader together with us. We hope this will build trust on the part of the government and become example of good cooperation for the private sector," he said. (WDY)