Pertamina says ExxonMobil to restart Aceh gas operations by July 15

State oil and gas company Pertamina said Friday that ExxonMobil was targeted to resume gas production in Aceh by July 15.

?Based on our latest assessment and the progress of current repair works. We hope ExxonMobil could resume production by July 15,? said Iin Arifin Takhyan, Pertamina director for production sharing management told Petromindo.com.

Iin, however, did not rule out the possibility of resuming operations sooner.

? If the repair works progressing rapidly and current security conditions can be maintained, ExxonMobil may be able to resume operations sooner,? said Iin.

Meanwhile, ExxonMobil spokesperson said ExxonMobil could not yet specify the exact date of operations resumption.

?We can not yet give any exact date. We are still in the process of assessing the damages and doing the repair works,? said Julia.

A source in ExxonMobil gas field in Arun told Petromindo.com that ExxonMobil had doubled the personnel involved in operation resumption preparation to 400.

ExxonMobil Oil Indonesia, a unit of American energy giant ExxonMobil Corp. was forced to shut down its gas operation in Arun fields in March due to worsening security condition in Aceh, where separatist rebels have been fighting for independence for decades. (godang)