Exxon considers pulling out of Gunting PSC: Official
Thursday, September 2 2010 - 09:07 AM WIB
US oil giant ExxonMobil Corp is considering pulling out of the Gunting PSC exploration block in East Java as local villagers have blockaded the firm?s activities, according to a senior government official.
?We have heard complaints from Exxon that it has been prohibited by villagers from operating the Gunting block,? said Chairman of the Indonesian upstream oil and gas regulatory agency BPMIGAS, R. Priyono on Thursday.
He said that BPMIGAS had asked Exxon to be patient as the regulatory agency was trying to resolve the matter with the local government. Exxon could not be immediately reached for comments.
ExxonMobil Oil Indonesia, the Indonesian unit of ExxonMobil Corp, has a 100 percent interest in the Gunting block, which was awarded in 2008. The company began conducting seismic activities in the area since the middle of May of this year. (godang)