Update: EMP's units get two CBM blocks

(Adds info on the awarding of contract to PT Ogan Interior Gas on the seventh paragraph)

IDX-listed energy firm PT Energi Mega Persada Tbk said on Tuesday that the government had awarded two contracts for its subsidiaries to develop coal bed methane (CBM) resources in Kalimantan.

PT Artha Widya Persada, which is 70% owned by EMP, was awarded with the Tabulako Block in South Kalimantan.

Meanwhile, PT Visi Multi Artha, a 70% owned subsidiary of EMP, in partnership with PT Pertamina Hulu Energi Metana Kalimantan B, a subsidiary of state owned oil and gas firm PT Pertamina, received a contract to develop the Sangatta-II block in East Kalimantan. Visi Multi Artha has 60% stake in the Sangatta-II block, while the remainder is held by the Pertamina subsidiary.

Coal mining giant PT Bumi Resources has 30 percent stake in each Artha Widya Persada and Visi Multi Artha.

The government will get signature bonuses of US$1.5 million for Sangatta-II Block and $1 million for Tabulako Block from the recipients of the contracts.

Preliminary studies indicate both blocks have combined contingent resources of over 1.5 trillion cubic feet of gas.

The government also awarded a CBM block to PT Ogan Interior Gas and will get $1.5 million in signature bonus from the firm in return.

Under the 30 years contracts, the three firms are committed to spending a total of $23.41 million for the first three years of exploration.

CBM is natural gas contained in coal, dominated by methane (CH-4). (godang/bernard)

No	Company	Block	First Commitment in three years (US$)	Signature Bonus (US$)	Manpower
1	Consortium Pertamina Hulu Energi Metana Kalimantan B - PT Visi Muti Artha	Sangatta II	9,535,695	1,500,000	100
2	PT Artha Widya Persada	Tabulako	6,827,125	1,000,000	100
3	PT Ogan Interior Gas	Ogan Komering	7,050,000	1,000,000	100
Total		?	23,412,820	3,500,000	300