China's Tianjin Group surveys S. Sumatra old oil wells

A 6-member team from China?s Tianjin Group has come to Muba Regency in South Sumatra to explore the possibilities of reactivating old oil wells in the area, local daily Sriwijaya Post reported on Wednesday.

The Chinese arrived in Muba on May 5 for a four-day survey over some 900 old oil wells which local government officials said as still can turn out relatively big volumes of oil, Sriwijaya Post said.

Tianjin Group president director Wang Hon Jun headed the team.

Some US$700 million is required for operating the 900 oil wells, according to Robert Heri, president director of Muba's oil company PT Petro Muba.

The Chinese surveyors' visit followed up on the recent visit to China of Muba Regent Alex Noerdin. During his visit, Tianjin Group's oil firm PT Bina Daya Perkasa Tianjin signed a cooperation memorandum of understanding with Petro Muba. (*)