Breakup of BPMIGAS causes confusion among operators

By Bernard Loebs

Oil and gas contractors have been left in confusion following the Constitutional Court?s decision to dissolve upstream authority BPMIGAS. Following the breakup of the agency, they don?t know whom they have to report to about their activities

For instance, Pertamina Hulu Energi (PHE), the subsidiary of state owned oil and gas firm PT Pertamina, which is busy drilling several wells, normally reports the progress of their activities to BPMIGAS every hour.

?Our oil and gas lifting activities still continue, so do our drilling activities. But, now, we don?t know who we have to report to or coordinate with. Usually, we send reports to BPMIGAS every hour about the progress of drilling, the result and obstacles, or whether we still need financing.

?We are now drilling a total of seven wells, two in North West Java block and four in West Madura Offshore and in four other blocks. If we stop drilling, that means the cost will increase. If we continue, we don?t know who we have to report to,? PHE?s President Director Salis Aprilian told Petromindo.com

Meanwhile, ExxonMobil Indonesia, one of the country?s largest oil and gas operators, said their operational activities still run as normal. ?Our focus now is continuing operations in safe fields. We are still monitoring the development of the case and can?t make further comments,? company spokesman Jeffrey Haribowo said.

Editing by Johannes Simbolon