Pertamina, Statoil to jointly participate in exploration blocks bidding

State oil and gas company Pertamina will form joint venture with Norwegian oil firm Statoil to bid in Indonesia?s latest exploration blocks offering round which was currently opened, Pertamina?s upstream director Sukusen Soemarinda said last week.

Sukusen did not give detail about the blocks the JV were targeting, but a report said among the blocks they were eyeing were deepwater blocks in Makassar Strait. Pertamina and StatOil earlier this month, signed cooperation agreement on Indonesian exploration activities. (godang)