Energi Mineral resumes drilling at ENC-1 well

By Godang Sitompul

PT Energi Mineral Langgeng has resumed exploration drilling at the ENC-1 well in the South East Madura block in East Java after protests from local villagers had been settled.

Elan Biantoro, Chief Representative of upstream authority BPMIGAS for Bali, Java and Nusa Tenggara region, said that the company had recently managed to resolve the problems encountered with the local villagers.

Elan told Petromindo.com that the company is currently awaiting for the results of the drilling at the ENC-1 well.

Energi Mineral was forced to suspend exploration activities the South East Madura block in May at following protests by the local villagers who claimed that the contractor had yet to provide them with the necessary ?socialization? program.

Energi Mineral, 49 percent owned by retired Army General Luhut Panjaitan, is the operator of the block with a 100 percent participating interest. The block was awarded to Energi Mineral in May, 2009. In the first three years of commitment, the company is to drill one exploration well.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak