Pertamina to wait for Petronas? response on E. Natuna giant gas block until December

State oil and gas firm Pertamina will await until December an answer from Malaysia?s national petroleum enterprise Petronas whether it is serious to participate to tap East Natuna D Alpha Block gas giant reserves, Pertamina?s upstream director Iin Arifin Takhyan told Petromindo.com on Thursday.

?We have already discussed that matter in workshops with Petronas, and have provided them with necessary data. It is now up to them to decide on whether or not to proceed with their plan,? Arifin said. ?We will wait for their answer until December.?

He declined to comment on measures to be taken by Pertamina if Petronas still could not give response to Pertamina?s offer in December.

Arifin said earlier Pertamina wanted the two parties to reach final agreement on the East Natuna project in 2003.

Pertamina had tried to lure Petronas on D Alpha Block for instance by opening for the Malaysian company its data room on the block. Negotiations between them had been slow.

D Alpha Block contains an estimated 210 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of gas, but due to higher carbon dioxide content, only 45 TCF are thought to be recoverable commercially.

U.S. oil major ExxonMobil Corp has 76 percent stake in the block, while Pertamina has the remaining 24 percent. (godang)