Indonesia Approves $3 Billion Development Plan for South China Sea Gas Block

Tuesday, January 3, 2023

Indonesia has approved the first plan of development for the Tuna offshore gas field with total estimated investment of $3.07 billion up to the start of production, upstream oil and gas regulator SKK Migas said on Monday.

The Tuna field, located in the South China Sea between Indonesia and Vietnam, is expected to reach peak production of 115 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD) in 2027, SKK Migas spokesperson Mohammad Kemal said.

Natural gas from Tuna field, which is operated by a local unit of London-listed Harbour Energy, is expected to be exported to Vietnam starting in 2026, Indonesia's energy minister has previously said.

SKK Migas chairman Dwi Soetjipto on Monday said that aside from economic benefits, development of the project would underline Indonesia's maritime entitlements.

"There will be activity in the border area which is one of the world's geopolitical hot spots," Dwi said in a statement.

"The Indonesian navy will also participate in securing the upstream oil and gas project so that economically and politically, it becomes an affirmation of Indonesia's sovereignty."

Energy activities in the South China Sea have in recent decades been held hostage by disputes over which country has sovereign rights, with work by Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines in their exclusive economic zones disrupted by Chinese coast guard or marine surveillance vessels.

China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea citing its own historical maps, claims that an international arbitration tribunal in 2016 ruled have no legal basis.

In 2021, China told Indonesia to stop drilling for oil and natural gas in maritime territory that both countries regard as their own, people familiar with the matter told Reuters at the time.


(Reuters - Reporting by Bernadette Christina; Editing by Martin Petty)

Categories: Activity Asia Natural Gas

Related Stories

Indonesia's Medco Starts Production at Natuna Sea Fields

Indonesia Grants Approval to Kuwaiti Firm for Anambas Block in Natuna Sea

ESVAGT, KMC Line to Launch Offshore Wind JV in South Korea

Current News

Mission Specialist Technology: VideoRay’s Technological Backbone

One Person Missing After Fire on Chevron’s Deepwater Platform off Angola

Tidal Transit Welcomes New CTV to Its Fleet

New Transfer Boat Set for Hornsea 2 Offshore Wind Service

Subscribe for OE Digital E‑News