Page 6 - AsianOil Week 32 2021

AsianOil SOUTHEAST ASIA AsianOil
Indonesia unveils Rokan production roadmap
PROJECTS & COMPANIES
INDONESIA’S upstream regulator SKK Migas has unveiled an ambitious production roadmap for the Rokan block now that state-owned Per- tamina has assumed its operatorship.
SKK Migas secretary Taslim Z Yunus told CPBC Indonesia on August 12 that the regulator wanted to see the block’s production rebound to 166,000 barrels per day this year. Beyond that, he added, production was expected to climb to 400,000 bpd by 2035, accounting for around 25-32% of national output.
Chevron Pacific Indonesia (CPI) handed control of the block to PHR on August 9 after a two-year transition period. Rokan’s production averaged 160,646 bpd in the first half of this year, shy of the government’s 2021 target of 165,000 bpd.
SKK Migas’ projections indicate how the country intends to boost national production from 667,000 bpd in the first six months of this year 1mn bpd.
On the day PHR assumed control of the block, the regulator released a statement say- ing that the state company would drill 161 new wells between August and December to increase production. It noted the block was producing 160,500 bpd of oil and 41mn cubic feet (1.16mn cubic metres) per day of gas as of July 31.
Pertamina CEO Nicke Widyawati said dur- ing the handover ceremony that her company intended to invest more than $2bn in the block by 2025.
“Pertamina is committed to maintain post-transfer production by conducting
predetermined drilling,” Nicke said at the cer- emony, adding that the company would drill a further 500 wells in 2022.
SKK Migas’ operations deputy, Julius Wiratno, said during a mid-July presentation on the country’s upstream performance that Rokan’s production was anticipated to continue climbing next year as PHR ramped up its drilling efforts.
“For next year, the estimate will definitely increase. We are currently discussing the pre-work programme and budget, [we’ll see] 175,000-180,000 bpd there and continue to increase,” he said on July 16.™
Philippine senator changes tack over Malampaya
POLICY
Sen. Sherwin T Gatchalian
PHILIPPINE Senator Sherwin T Gatchalian appears to have shifted strategies in his crusade against local conglomerate Udenna’s acquisition of Royal Dutch Shell’s stake in the deepwater Malampaya natural gas field.
The senator, who is also chair of the Senate committee on energy, had demanded the gov- ernment explain its decision making if it chooses to approve the deal. He then led a senate inquiry into Udenna’s technological and financial competence.
Now, however, Gatchalian has set his sights on the block’s contract renewal in 2024, arguing
that the country’s only commercial gas field should put up for auction.
“If ever [the] government decides to get another operator, it has to bid it out because that’s the only way for us to get the best price, [the] best operator possible and for us to get the best option. So, my view here is that, after 2024, if government do decide to look for a [new] oper- ator... or [keep the] existing operator, they have to bid it out,” He said on August 10.
Speaking at during a Management Associa- tion of Philippines webinar, Gatchalian said the contract would “revert” to the government when
P6
w w w . N E W S B A S E . c o m Week 32 12•July•2021