Energy Equity may re-start Sengkang gas ops Tuesday

Energy Equity Epic Sengkang (EEES), the operator of Sengkang gas block onshore South Sulawesi, will restart operations today after police has vowed to uphold security within its operations area, an official with upstream oil, gas watchdog BPMIGAS said on Tuesday.

BPMIGAS Spokesperson Agus Suryono told Petromindo.Com that preparations to start-up gas operations have commenced. ?If all conditions including safety and security were met, we will start operations immediately,? he said.

EEES, a subsidiary of ASX-listed energy firm Energy World Corp. (EWC), is forced to stop gas production operations after hundreds of Wajo regency residents backed by its regent, stormed the Company?s office on Friday. The residents demanded EEES to pay royalty on gas produced.

The residents? occupation has stopped gas supply of 45 MMCFD from the block to a 195-MW power plant -also owned by EWC- and caused rotated blackout to the province.

?We hope to be able to resume gas production later today,? Agus said. (alex/bernard)