Words and Photos courtesy of SKK Migas and Petrogas (Island) Ltd.

Joint Operating Body (JOB) Pertamina-PetroChina Salawati (PPS) officially handed over Salawati Island Kepala Burung Block in Sorong regency, West Papua, to Petrogas (Island) Ltd. on Thursday, April 23, 2020. The handover was a follow-up to the signing of a gross split contract of the block between the Indonesian government and Singapore-based RH Petrogas Ltd., the parent company of Petrogas (Island) Ltd.

The handover ceremony was done through video conference as Indonesia dealt with the Covid-19 pandemic. PetroChina VP Human Resources & Relations Dencio Renato Boele, who acted as the PetroChina OPCOM representative, attended the ceremony along with West Papua Governor Dominggus Mandacan, Sorong regent Johny Kamuru, Raja Ampat regent Abdul Faris Umlati, SKK Migas deputy of operations Julius Wiratno, SKK Migas deputy of business support Sulistya Hastuti Wahyu, Pertamina Hulu Energi (PHE) President Director Meidawati, Petrogas Indonesia President Syafri Syafar, and PHE director of operation and production Taufik Adityawarman as PHE OPCOM representative.

The symbolic handover of the work area was marked by the separate signings of the minutes of handover by JOB PPS General Manager Akhmad Tri Budi Prabowo and Petrogas (Island) Ltd. General Manager Afar Alzubaid Mbai.

In his speech, Dencio said that PetroChina was proud to have been involved in developing the upstream oil and gas industry in the Bird’s Head area in West Papua. “Other than upstream oil and gas industry development in the area, we have also carried out various CSR programs to help local communities. We hope that this have helped improved lives for community members around the work area.”

Dencio continued that PetroChina gave high appreciation for Pertamina and SKK Migas for the cooperation and support in JOB PPS throughout the years.

The Salawati Block exists in an area of 1,136.82 square kilometers and began producing in 1991. Currently, Salawati Block comprises several fields, including Matoa, SWO, NEO, ANAK, ARGO, NE AJA and BAGONG. Matoa Field is the block’s main production facilities. The seven fields comprise 19 wells that produce over 750 barrels of oil per day and 2.5 MMSCFD of gas.

Akhmad said that effective, transparent and honest communications with local and national-level stakeholders ensured smooth handover of the Salawati Block. “On behalf of all workers at JOB PPS, I thank and appreciate everyone who has worked hard to support the operations of Salawati Block,” he said.

Meanwhile, in a recorded statement, Dominggus said that the West Papua administration thanked all involved parties that had supported the development of the province’s upstream oil and gas industry.