Exxon, Petronas to be Pertamina's partners in Natuna

State-owned oil and gas company PT Pertamina is reportedly asking American energy giant ExxonMobil and Malaysian state-controlled firm Petronas to become its partners in developing the gas-rich Natuna D Alpha block.

The report came in the wake of a confirmed report that Malaysia had stated its intention to get gas from the block.

?The election of ExxonMobil and Petronas as partners has almost become a reality now. Pertamina has established a team chaired by its former senior executive Iin Arifin Takhyan to finalize the plan,? a reliable source told Petromindo.com in Jakarta on Monday.

He said that the reason why Pertamina is electing the two companies was due to their mastering of technology and potential market for the Natuna gas. ?Exxon is elected because it has the technological capability, while Petronas is chosen because its home country wants to buy gas from the block,? he said.

When contacted, Iin Arifin Takhyan ,refused to comment about the plan. (godang)