BPMIGAS, Navy sign cooperation to boost offshore security

Oil and gas upstream regulatory body BPMIGAS and the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to extend cooperation in providing security for the country's offshore oil and gas facilities.

The MoU was signed on Friday aboard the Navy's KRI Makassar warship during its trip off the Malaka strait by the chairman of BPMIGAS R. Priyono and TNI AL's chief of staff Admiral Agus Suhartono.

Priyono said that BPMIGAS and the Navy agreed to improve security and inspection of the offshore oil and gas facilities within the Indonesian territory under the newly signed cooperation agreement.

?Security and inspection of offshore oil and gas facilities especially located in areas near the borders with neighboring countries will be improved,? Priyono said, adding that the improvement of the security at offshore oil and gas facilities was needed in line with the increase in the number of offshore oil and gas facilities.

At present, 24 contractors are involved in production of oil and gas in the Indonesian waters, he said.

Priyono said the security of offshore oil and gas facilities located at border areas such as Ambalat, Natuna and Timor waters was now becoming more crucial to anticipate the possible border conflicts with neighboring countries.

The cooperation agreement will be valid for five years until 2015, and could be extended for another five years. The first agreement was signed in May 2005. (godang)