Saumlaki chosen as logistic supply base for Masela project

By Bernard Loebs

Upstream authority SKK Migas and Japanese firm INPEX Corp. has chosen Saumlaki, the capital of Maluku Tenggara Barat regency, Maluku province as the Logistic Supply Base (LSB) for the Abadi LNG project in Masela block.

The town has been chosen on technical and environmental grounds, SKK Migas? interim Chairman J. Widjonarko said recently.

The agency said it is studying options whether Inpex will build the LSB by itself or let others develop it and Inpex will lease it; and schedules for the development of the LSB and the obtainment of permits.

In Yearly Report 2012, SKK Migas noted that in view of the fact that Masela is located in frontier area, Inpex needs to coordinate with the Ministry of Defense to determine the location of the SLB.

Inpex together with its partner Royal Dutch Shell is now in the early process of developing a floating LNG production plant to process the gas from Abadi field.

Editing by Johannes Simbolon