New Oil and Gas Reserves Found in East Indonesia
Speaking at the 95th Anniversary of Indonesia's Engineering School at Bandung Institute of
Technology (ITB), Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Indroyono Soesilo said that recent
exploration activity has revealed new oil and gas reservoirs in the pre-Tertiary basement from
the Mesozoic era. "It's a new chapter of oil and gas exploration in the country," Indroyono said
on Friday, (3/7) at Bandung Institute of Technology. According to Indroyono, geologists
predicted that the oil reserves amounted to 222 billion barrels.
"Most of it can be found in
the pre-Tertiary basement in Eastern Indonesia," Indroyono added. The country's geotectonic
condition has resulted in areas enriched with minerals, oil and gas, particularly at the bottom of
the ocean. Indonesia's oil deposits can be easily found in eastern coast of Sumatera, north of
Java and Bali. Currently, Indonesia holds about 7.4 billion barrels of oil reserves and 149 trillion
cubic feet equivalent of gas reserves. "It was recorded that 40 out of 60 oil and gas fields are
located in the ocean," the Minister said. Indroyono also highlighted important roles played by
science and technology to build Indonesia as a maritime country. One of the initiatives to realize
the vision is to build a Techno Park in Penajam, East Kalimantan. Indroyono called on ITB
alumni to be actively involved in the country's maritime development. "Without science and
technology, the ocean is just a pool of blue water," Indroyono said. Source: Tempo.co.
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