MEMR to engage TNI in improving oil, gas data

The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR) plans to engage the Indonesian Military (TNI) in helping to improve data on the country?s oil and gas potential.

This was said by Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Panjaitan, who is also interim Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources.

Luhut said on Thursday in a statement that under the plan, the MEMR will provide equipment attached to TNI ships to take better picture of the country?s oil and gas potential during patrolling activities. He said that the project is expected to start next year.

Better data of the country?s oil and gas potential is seen crucial to help lure more investors. Director General of Oil and Gas at the ministry IGN Wiratmaja Puja said that the data quality of oil and gas assets in Indonesia vary. Some have good quality data, others have poor data or none at all. According to studies by geologists, Indonesia has huge oil and gas potential among others in Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Papua and Maluku.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak