Santos plans joint study in Natuna

By Godang Sitompul

Australian firm Santos Limited plans a joint study in an offshore area in Natuna Islands, Riau Archipelago Province, according a source.

?The joint study proposal has been submitted to the Directorate General of Oil and Gas and the company along with the directorate general is discussing the proposal,? the source said.

Santos Indonesia?s President Director Marolijn Wajong refused to confirm the information, only saying,? We are eying potentials in central Indonesia, rather than Java. The area has not yet been developed. That?s why we are interested to go there.

She said Santos is also interested in areas in eastern Indonesia as long as ?the opportunities and costs are equal?.

Santos is however not interested in coal bed methane (CBM) blocks, he said, adding the firm may eye CBM blocks in the future if the current regulation on the sector is changed.

Editing by Johannes Simbolon