The government of Indonesia is reviewing plans to again auction the giant East Natuna Block offshore Indonesia as carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology opens up the development potential of the carbon dioxide (CO2) intense field, according to Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Arifin Tasrif.
Indonesian national oil company (NOC) Pertamina is doggedly pursuing US major ExxonMobil to help it develop oil resources at the giant East Natuna field in the disputed waters of the South China Sea. Development of the field faces huge technical, economic and geopolitical challenges, but Pertamina believes a gradual phased development, starting with oil could offer a solution.