MEMR seeks cooperation with navy for offshore oil, gas survey

The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR) is looking into possibility to cooperate with the Indonesian Navy in carrying out oil and gas survey in the deep sea to help increase the country?s oil and gas reserves.

This was said by Director General of Oil and Gas at the ministry IGN Wiratmaja Puja in a statement Thursday issued following a meeting with ministry senior officials and Admiral (retired) Marsetio. He said that experts have estimated the country?s deep sea to contain huge potential of oil and gas reserves.

He said that the vessels owned by the Indonesian Navy will have to be modified to be able to carry out the oil and gas survey in the deep sea particularly in the eastern part of the country, which requires huge capital, technology and carries high risk.

He said that existing survey vessels are quite costly because of their detailed quality. He said that by teaming up with the navy, the ministry can first conduct rough survey, which will then be followed up with detailed survey using a more sophisticated vessel once oil and gas reserves have been found.

Marsetio said that cooperation between the ministry and the Indonesian Navy in carrying out offshore oil and gas survey is possible, but it requires a special legal umbrella.

Wiratmaja did not say when the cooperation the navy will be realized.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak