Pertamina suspends exploration activity in Iraq

State-owned oil and gas firm PT Pertamina said Tuesday it had suspended all exploration activity in Iraq due to political uncertainty in that troubled country.

?We prefer to wait until the new government is formed,? Pertamina upstream director Bambang Nugroho said in a hearing with the House of Representatives.

Pertamina holds a contract to develop the Block 3 of the 17,700 square-kilometer Western Desert concession in Iraq.

Pertamina has already completed the administration work and opened an office in Iraq to carry out its activities in that country. Earlier, the company stopped its activities in the block due to the U.S. attack on Iraq.

The U.S. has reportedly scheduled to transfer sovereignty to an interim government in Iraq on June 30. (godang)