Pertamina to resume oil operation in Iraq

By Godang Sitompul

State oil and gas company PT Pertamina will send in the near future a team to Iraq to further explore a follow-up of business to business cooperation with Iraqi oil and gas companies after the fall of Saddam Husein regime.

"Yes, we?ve planned to send a team to find out about the follow-up of our business cooperation in the country,? Pertamina Upstream Director Muhamad Husein told Petromindo.com in Jakarta on Tuesday.

When Saddam Husein was still in power in Iraq, Pertamina managed to get the Tuba and Western Desert Blocks from the Iraqi government

Separately, Pertamina Business Development Director Andriyansyah confirmed that his company will send in the near future a team to maintain a government to government relationship as well as to sound out a follow-up of business cooperation with the Iraqi oil and gas firms.

"We haven?t yet been assured anything about the assets and there's nothing yet ready to be shared,? Andriyansyah told Petromindo.com.

But a reliable source told Petromindo.com that the main problem facing Pertamina to continue the oil and gas business in Iraq is the fact that the Indonesian government has not yet acknowledged the sovereignty of the incumbent government in Iraq.

?The ministry of foreign affairs has not yet decided whether to accept the current Iraqi government or not,? the source said,

Editing by Benget Besalicto Tnb.