Kondur Petroleum S.A. eyes CPP oil block

A local oil company PT Kondur Petroleum S.A. is intensively lobbying the provincial administration of Riau to be elected as the local government's partner in taking over the management and operation of the Coastal Plains Pekanbaru (CPP) oil field once the current contract end in August next year.

Riau Pos reported on Tuesday that talks with the province's senior officials were continuing although the Ministry of Mines and Energy had asked the local government to cooperate with the state owned oil and gas company Pertamina.

Kondur has yet surrendered its attempt. The company recently invited a number of local journalists to visit its oil field in Kondur island in the western part of the province in its efforts to win the heart of the local people.

The province has recently established a new company PT Riau Makmur Petroleum, also called PD Migas to represent it in the operation of the oil block, which is currently still operated by PT Caltex Pacific Indonesia (CPI).

The local government had been given three alternatives in selecting its partners in operating the oil block. The province was offered to cooperate with Pertamina or Caltex or both of them but the local government turned down the offer and said it would chose its own partner through a tender process.

The ministry has not issued its final approval to the province to take over the operation of the CPP oil block as the province has yet to determine which companies it will cooperate with. (--R. Amoros--)