Indonesia invites Russian investors to bid on 138 energy blocks

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia is inviting Russian investors to bid on 138 oil and gas exploration blocks as the Southeast Asian nation seeks to deepen bilateral energy cooperation with Moscow.

Secretary General of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Ahmad Erani Yustika confirmed here on Friday that the energy sector remains a primary focus of ongoing discussions between the two countries.

"The ministry is offering more than a hundred oil and gas blocks to Russian investors, should they be interested in joining the bidding process," Yustika said.

He added that ESDM Minister Bahlil Lahadalia would soon provide further technical details on the concessions.

The investment push aligns with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto's visit to Vladivostok, Russia, where he attended the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) on Thursday (Sept. 3) as a guest of honor.

During the international forum, Prabowo officially invited Russian energy companies to invest in and develop 138 energy exploration blocks currently open across the archipelago.

The president said Jakarta is actively discussing potential partnerships with Russian corporate groups to develop several joint energy projects, including refineries and storage terminals.

While Indonesia possesses abundant liquefied natural gas (LNG) reserves and does not directly require Russian gas supplies, Prabowo emphasized that the country remains highly open to adopting Russian energy technology and collaborating on joint infrastructure development.

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Translator: Putu Savitri, Uyu Liman
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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