Iraq asks Pertamina to carry out exploration

The Iraqi oil ministry has asked Indonesia?s state oil and gas firm Pertamina to soon carry out exploration survey in that country, oil and gas director general Iin Arifin Takhyan told Petromindo.Com Thursday.

?Pertamina has been asked to soon fulfill its contractual obligations like exploration surveys, seismic data reprocessing and preparations for the auctioning of 2D seismic studies,? the official said.

Pertamina and The Iraqi Oil Exploration Company last year signed an agreement to allow the Indonesian firm to explore for oil in Iraq?s Western Desert area.

Due to the Iraqi war, the Iraqi oil ministry had agreed that Pertamina postpone its oil exploration for at least six months, from March 20, 2003, Iin Arifin said Thursday.

The director general said that a special team of Pertamina had just returned from Iraq where they studied that country?s situation.

Pertamina had planned to open its office in Bagdad, Iin Arifin said.

The company had also planned to invest around US$35 million in exploration activities in Iraq. (godang)