Pertamina eager to resume explorations in Iraq
Friday, June 15 2012 - 03:41 AM WIB
State oil and gas company PT Pertamina is eager to resume its exploration activities in Western Desert Block of Iraq now as the country has been politically stable under the rule of a new administration following years of being torn by wars after the fall of Saddam Hussein.
?Currently, discussions are underway between Pertamina and the administration of Iraq. We hope that our discussions will lead to a decision for us to resume our explorations there that had been stopped for some time due to the wars and political instability,? Pertamina Busniness Development Vice President Andriansyah told Petromindo.com in Jakarta on Friday.
?Our target is to invest in their production fields and to resume our explorations in Western Desert,? he added.
During the administration of authoritarian Saddam Hussein, Pertamina was awarded with two blocks of explorations, namely Western Desert and Tuba.
"But for now we?re interested in the Western Desert only. Not yet Tuba,? he said.
Evita H. Legowo, Director General of oil and gas at the ministry of energy and mineral resources, has confirmed that there will discussions between Pertamina and a team of officials from Iraq during the upcoming official visit by Iraqi prime minister to Indonesia from June 25 to 27.
Editing by Benget Besalicto Tnb.