RI seeks energy cooperation with Iran

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Sudirman Said stated that Indonesia is seeking cooperation with Iran in various areas of the energy sector including oil, gas, and renewable sources of energy.

Sudirman said in a statement obtained Friday that Indonesia sees opportunities following the recent lifting of economic sanction against Iran.

He said that an Iranian energy delegation is scheduled to visit Indonesia in the middle of February, followed by oil and gas delegation in the following month.

Sudirman added that he also plans to visit Iran to further detail planned energy projects between the two countries.

He explained that there are opportunities for Iran to be involved in a number of projects in Indonesia including in petrochemical refinery, electricity, and the development of renewable sources of energy. ?We probably can provide opportunity in the electricity sector particularly in renewable such as hydro and wind,? he said.

Another area of cooperation is in LPG sector as Iran has been able to produce 15 million metric tons of LPG per year and 1 million barrels of condensate per year. Sudirman said that state-owned oil and gas firm PT Pertamina will cooperate with its Iran counterpart in this planned project.

The statement said that Iran has also opened opportunity for Indonesia to be engaged in fertilizer industry to take advantage of Iran?s cheap gas. The location for the planned project is proposed in the country?s south, bordering with Pakistan.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak