ExxonMobil returns oil, gas blocks to govt

ExxonMobil Oil Indonesia has returned three oil and gas exploration blocks back to the government as they?re considered to be not economical and have no contribution to the company, Kontan daily reported on Monday.

The paper quoted Erwin Maryoto, Vice President for Public and Government Affairs at the company as saying that three blocks were Gunting block in East Java, Surumana block in Central Sulawesi and Mandar block in West Sulawesi.

Erwin said that Surumana and Mandar blocks were returned to the government because the company had not found oil and gas reserves in the blocks. Meanwhile, the Gunting block was returned due to protest from local communities when the company carried out 2D seismic survey.

Meanwhile, regarding the Cendrawasih Block in Papua, in which the company has a 55 percent stake, ExxonMobil has not yet decided whether to return it to the government or sells it to partner Black Gold Energy.

He said that ExxonMobil conducts regular evaluation of its assets to assess their contribution to the company. (*)