Pertamina is serious in its bid for larger interest at ONWJ

State oil and gas company PT Pertamina (Persero) expressed seriousness in its bid to increase its interest at Offshore North West Java (ONWJ) oil and gas block offshore West Java, as high as possible in order to strengthen its control of the block.

"We mean to increase our shares in ONWJ," Pertamina President Director Karen Agustiawan told Petromindo.com on the sidelines of a post-Idul Fitri get-together at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources office on Wednesday.

However, she refused to go into details about the bid.

Earlier, Upstream Director M. Husein told Petromindo.com the company is eyeing CNOOC?s 36.72 percent stake in the block which is currently being put on tender for sale, competing with IDX-listed PT Energi Mega Persada Tbk, PT Medco Energi Internasional Tbk and Samudra Energy.

Currently Pertamina holds the majority stake of the ONWJ block through its unit PT Pertamina Hulu Energy with 53.25 percent. (Godang)