Pertamina delays oil exploration in Iraq
Friday, January 10 2003 - 01:43 AM WIB
State oil and gas firm Pertamina has asked the Iraqi government for a delay in its plan to explore for oil in that country?s Western Desert due to security reasons, the company?s senior executive told Petromindo.com Friday.
The initial plan was that Pertamina?s oil exploration activities in Western Desert would have started by January 2003, said Pertamina?s upstream director Iin Arifn Takhyan. He is also oil and gas director general at the ministry of energy and mineral resources.
?But, we have asked for a delay to March of this year, due to security reasons,? Arifin said.
The oil exploration plan was part of the cooperation agreement signed last year by the Indonesian and Iraqi governments.
Under the agreement, Pertamina was given a contract to explore for oil in a Western Desert area covering about 10,000 square meters. (godang)