John Anis, President Director of Pertamina New & Renewable Energy (PNRE), revealed that the company is continuously pursuing increased production, particularly in the upstream sector, to reduce import dependency.

So far, Pertamina continues drilling in several wells. Last year, for example, the company targeted drilling in 32 wells. Most recently, SKK Migas and Pertamina EP Zone 14 Papua Field (PEP) commenced drilling in the Klasafet District, Sorong Regency, Southwest Papua on April 29, 2024.

John said that exploration for new wells are ongoing, while expressing gratitude to the government for supporting the company in identifying potential areas. "However finding the right locations for exploration is not easy," he told the BUMN Business Forum in Jakarta on April 30, 2024.

Last year, Pertamina Hulu Energy recorded crude oil production levels of up to 566,000 barrels per day (BOPD), accounting for about 68 percent of the national crude oil production.

John said that several organic fields experienced significant production decline of up to 50 percent. This decline is attributed to the fact that some producing wells are located in mature fields, including the Rokan Block.

Despite being a mainstay for domestic oil production, Pertamina has been implementing secondary and tertiary recovery efforts, including utilizing Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) technology to maintain or increase oil production.

"This is also a challenging endeavor that we continue to pursue, albeit requiring time and effort. These are the efforts we continue to undertake," John said.

Agus Cahyono Adi, Head of Public Communication, Public Information Services, and Cooperation Bureau at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), said that national crude oil lifting previously reached 1.5 million barrels per day and has now declined to 600,000 barrels per day.

He added that efforts to increase production and lifting are ongoing, including opening up new exploration points. The government also provides incentives to companies to create attractive cooperation patterns for Pertamina, including deepening existing fields.

"Efforts are ongoing, including opening up new exploration areas. Our exploration is supported by technology to search for resources," Agus said.