State energy company PT Pertamina has set up partnership with two Japanese energy companies, JOGMEC and JAPEX, to develop Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) technology to contribute for the achievement of Indonesia’s net zero emission target.

Fadjar Djoko Santoso, Pertamina Vice President for Corporate Communication, said that the cooperation aims to accelerate the application of CCUS technology in Pertamina’s oil and gas fields.

Following the success in the Jatibarang Field in Indramayu, West Java, the initiative now continues at the Sukowati Field in Bojonegoro, East Java.

"This partnership is part of Pertamina's commitment to decarbonization while also boosting national oil and gas production," Fadjar said in a statement as quoted on Monday, October 14, 2024.

The project involves injecting 100 tons of CO2 per day over a 25-day period using specially designed equipment. The CO2 is injected in a liquid or gas state at well pressures of 1,000–1,500 psi, and this represents the second phase of a pilot test following the initial “huff and puff” method conducted in late 2023.

After the second phase, Pertamina plans to evaluate oil production levels and, if successful, expand the full implementation of CCUS technology with CO2-EOR (Enhanced Oil Recovery) at Sukowati and other oil fields.

Pertamina President Director, Nicke Widyawati, emphasized Indonesia's significant potential in deploying CCUS technology to reduce emissions and secure energy resources, citing the Sukowati CCUS project is a stepping stone for broader applications in other oil fields across the country.

“This project’s success could serve as a model for similar initiatives in the future, creating positive multiplier effects and contributing to economic growth,” Nicke said on Monday.

In addition to environmental benefits, Nicke highlighted that the CCUS project also offers investment opportunities, particularly from developed nations like Japan. This could further enhance CO2 storage capacities and drive innovation within related industries.

The CO2 injection ceremony was attended by Nicke Widyawati, Hiroshi Okabe from JOGMEC, Kyoko Okamoto from JAPEX, and several officials from Indonesia’s Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry and local government.