SKK Migas calls for oil lifting target revision

By Godang Sitompul

Upstream authority SKK Migas says the oil lifting target set by the government and the House of Representatives in the 2013 State Budget is not realistic and thus needs revision.

The State Budget sets the target at 900,000 barrels per day, while the realistic production target for this year is 830,000 bpd.

?A production of 830,000 bpd is achievable. If the government (the Ministry of Finance) does not want it to be changed, please use realistic data,? SKK Migas? Chairman Rudi Rubiandini said on Monday.

He said the Ministry of Finance has hinted its willingness to revise down the target to 840,000 bpd.

Indonesia has never achieved its oil lifting targets over the past many years, he said. The reason is the targets were always too high.

He said the country?s oil and gas industry is now facing problems and opportunities. The biggest challenge faced by the industry is how to achieve a zero decline this year.

Editing by Johannes Simbolon