Caltex predicts output decline in 2002: Report

PT Caltex Pacific Indonesia, on Thursday predicted its output in 2002 would fall to 560,000 barrels per day (bpd) from an average 690,000 bpd this year because of a range of disruptions, according to Reuters.

``We expect our output to average 560,000 bpd next year,'' a senior Caltex official who declined to be identified told Reuters.

``The fall is because we will no longer be operating the CPP oil block starting August next year and because of expected security disruptions in production areas,'' the official said.

President Megawati Sukarnoputri has agreed to extend Caltex's right to operate the Coastal Plain Pekanbaru (CPP) oil field in Riau province for another year after its contract expired last month.

Caltex's operations on the island of Sumatra have been hit by a series of disputes with local administrators and workers in past years. The oil giant is jointly owned by Chevron Corp and Texaco Inc . (*)