Indonesia’s Ministry of Energy & Mineral Resources (ESDM) has lined up winners for two blocks offered last year via the direct tender process.
ESDM on 28 December revealed that Jabung Tengah (Central Jabung) working area had been awarded to a consortium of local companies Cipta Niaga Gemilang and Rukun Raharja.
The duo’s firm commitment workscope for the initial three years on the Jabung Tengah block comprises three geological and geophysical (G&G) studies, the acquisition and processing of 500 line kilometres of 2D seismic data and the drilling of two exploration wells.
This minimum commitment spend of $16.55 million was complemented by a $150,000 signature bonus.
Meanwhile, the Paus working area has been won by Blue Sky Paus. Here the commitment workscope calls for two G&G studies, one G&G survey, the acquisition and processing of 200 square kilometres of 3D seismic, and one exploration well. This exploration campaign comes with a minimum investment of $14.6576 million while Blue Sky will also stump up a $200,000 signature bonus.
The 8728.34-square kilometre Jabung Tengah block is located onshore and offshore Jambi and Riau provinces while the 8214-square kilometre Paus block is located offshore East Natuna. Paus was offered via direct tender without a joint study agreement.
“The government hopes that the winner of the auction for the Jabung Tengah WK [working area] and WK Paus can contribute to Indonesia’s energy security in the future. We urge the auction winners to properly carry out the firm commitments that have been set,” said the ministry’s director general oil and gas, Tutuka Ariadji.
He added that the second licensing round of 2022 is still ongoing, with four blocks up for grabs: the Sangkar block offshore and onshore East and Central Java, the Bunga block offshore East Java, the Peri Mahakam block onshore and offshore East Kalimantan, and the Bose block offshore and onshore East Nusa Tenggara.
Sangkar, Bunga and Peri Mahakam are available via the direct tender process while Bose is open for competitive bids.
The ministry now is preparing six working areas that could potentially be offered via licensing rounds in 2023 — Seuramoe, Berkah, Arwana, Serpang, Akia and Melati.
