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Southwest Papua People's Assembly (MRPBD) and customary land owner Ehut Kalaibin expressed his joy towards the inauguration for the drilling of the North East Markisa (NEM)-001 oil and natural gas (natgas) well in Klafma Village, Aimas District, Sorong Regency, Southwest Papua Province on Feb. 12, 2025.
"I represent the Kalaibin and Klafma families in supporting this [oil and gas] exploration, and hope that the results will be optimal so that they can have an impact on our community. I also remind investors not to forget the existence of the MRPBD, because as a cultural institution we also facilitate on local customary issues," said Ehut who is part of the MRPBD Local Customs Working Group.
He added that a traditional ceremony had been held as a form of ancestral blessing for the activity on Feb. 8, 2025, and noted that the current impact felt by the customary landowners from the project is the employment of local workers who can support the operation of the NEM-001 well.
PT Pertamina EP Vice President Exploration Regional East Indonesia Dedi Yusmen stated that there has been no oil and natgas exploration in the Papua region for almost 10 years. Hence, the government has been exploring at a massive scale for new energy sources in the region in the last 2 years as part of its efforts to realize energy self-sufficiency.
"NEM-001 is the fourth well drilled by PT Pertamina Hulu Energi (PT PHE) under PT Pertamina EP Field Papua in the last two years, with a target drilling depth of 2,200 meters deep that takes 2.5 months to obtain results," he explained
Dedi also said that the Prabowo Subianto administration's ongoing budget austerity policy would not have a significant impact on the project because drilling is a long-term investment.
"Drilling costs are indeed expensive, therefore our target this year will be two more wells that will be explored in order to find new oil and natgas energy sources," he added.
Dedi divulged that three wells that have previously been explored by Pertamina have started production, but the government is still looking for buyers. He hopes that the Southwest Papua Provincial Government could assist in attracting oil and natgas investment.
Upstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Special Task Force (SKK Migas) Papua Maluku Representative Office Head Mardianto expressed his gratitude to the Southwest Papua Governor, the Sorong Regent, members of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the Indonesian Police (POLRI), as well as the people of Klafma Village, especially the Kalaibin clan, for their extraordinary collaboration in supporting smooth operations and creating a positive investment image for Southwest Papua.
"Drilling the NEM-001 exploration well is a step to optimize the potential of oil and natgas in Southwest Papua with the aim of finding sources of oil and gas reserves that can increase production and support the fulfillment of national energy needs, especially Southwest Papua," he explained.
In addition, it is important to note that the drilling has had a positive impact on the surrounding community, such as participation, albeit for a limited time, by the youth from each village in the activity.
SKK Migas continues to encourage collaboration contractors (KKKS) to increase oil and natgas lifting by actively achieving jointly agreed production targets, in line with Prabowo's goal for Indonesia to strive towards energy self-sufficiency.
"The oil and gas potential in this region must be optimized so that it can support the national lifting target and influence the oil and gas downstream activities initiated by the government, especially efforts to increase the use of natgas as raw material for industry as well as increase the role of entrepreneurs and local communities to be involved in the upstream oil and gas industry ecosystem," Mardianto elaborated.
The NEM-001 well drilling activity is expected to be able to provide the expected results in order to increase national oil and natgas production for the welfare of the people.
Acting Sorong Regent Edison Siagian expressed his appreciation for the presence of PT PHE and Pertamina EP Field Papua who have invested in the Sorong Regency area's oil and gas industry.
"The investment will certainly affect the surrounding area. There are 128 local workers working here. Not to mention other effects, such as support for the local community's economic [conditions]. Of course, as the government, we hope that the investment can be run in harmony with the community," said Edison.
The inauguration of the NEM-001 well was marked by prayers and thanksgiving by cutting tumpeng and pressing the siren for the start of oil and natgas exploration in the area.
