Pertamina EP waiting for permits for Nona block

By Godang Sitompul

PT Pertamina EP said Tuesday it is in the process of securing the license from Forestry Ministry to borrow and use forest area within its Nona PSC, Jombang onshore East Java, to enable it to carry out further activities after the completion of seismic survey.

"If everything goes according to plan, we estimate that we could spud a well next April," said VP for Exploration Nanang S. Manaf to Petromindo.com.

Nanang said the company has already obtained a recommendation letter from East Java Governor.

"The Governor's recommendation letter has been issued, so now it's entirely in the Forestry Ministry's hands. If we manage to secure the permit, then construction works will shortly follow."

Arief Fanzuri, Head of Survey and Exploration Division at SKK Migas, told Petromindo.com that a seismic survey on Nona block has been completed, with evaluation on the survey results still ongoing.

The block covers a 4,000 square hectares of area encompassing six sub-districts.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak