Gross Split Regulation Still Improved

The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) continues to work on improving the scheme for the gross split. The latest thing to do is to revise the Regulation of the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources No. 8/2017 on the Gross Split Revenue Contract. This revision to synergize the stipulation of Government Regulation no. 53 The year 2017 on Tax Treatment on Upstream Oil and Gas Business Activities with Gross Split Distribution Contract.

For information, in Government Regulation no. 53/2017 states, this Government Regulation regulates the types of contractors' income, calculation of taxable income, operating costs which may or may not be taken into account as a reduction of gross producers.

It also regulates the recognition and measurement of income, profit sharing and liability of contractors or tax-related operators. In addition, the regulation also provides incentives in the form of tax facilities to contractors.

Secretary-General of Oil and Gas at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Susyanto, said the revision will add a section that regulates the contractor's indirect taxes that have been changed or accounted for in additional splits.

"One article, if not mistaken, is inserted in article 7 of Ministerial Regulation 08 Year 2017," said Susyanto, in a release on Sunday (7/1).

He predicted mid-January 2018, the revision of this rule has been completed.

"Draft already exists. Actually just report it, if Mr. Vice Minister is okay, just waiting for the signature of the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources. That's it, "he added.

IN INDONESIA

Peraturan Gross Split Masih Terus Disempurnakan

Kementerian Energi dan Sumber Daya Mineral (ESDM) terus berupaya menyempurnakan skema bagi hasil gross split. Hal terbaru yang akan dilakukan adalah merevisi Peraturan Menteri ESDM No 8/2017 tentang Kontrak Bagi Hasil Gross Split. 

     Revisi ini untuk menyinergikan penetapan Peraturan Pemerintah No. 53 Tahun 2017 Tentang Perlakuan Perpajakan pada Kegiatan Usaha Hulu Minyak dan Gas Bumi dengan Kontrak Bagi Hasil Gross Split.

Sebagai informasi, dalam Peraturan Pemerintah No. 53/2017 menyebutkan, Peraturan Pemerintah ini mengatur mengenai jenis-jenis penghasilan kontraktor, penghitungan penghasilan kena pajak, biaya-biaya operasi baik yang dapat maupun tidak dapat diperhitungkan sebagai pengurang penghasil bruto.

Lalu juga mengatur pengakuan dan pengukuran penghasilan, perhitungan bagi hasil dan kewajiban kontraktor atau operator terkait pajak. Di samping itu, diatur pula mengenai pemberian insentif dalam bentuk fasilitas perpajakan kepada kontraktor.

Sekretaris Jenderal Migas Kementerian ESDM Susyanto bilang, revisi ini akan menambahkan satu pasal yang mengatur pajak-pajak tidak langsung kontraktor yang diubah atau diperhitungkan menjadi tambahan split. 

"Satu pasal saja. Kalau tidak salah, disisipkan di pasal 7 Peraturan Menteri 08 Tahun 2017,“ jelas Susyanto, dalam rilis, Minggu (7/1).

Dia memperkirakan, pertengahan Januari 2018, revisi aturan ini sudah selesai dilakukan. 

“Draft sudah ada. Sebenarnya hanya melapor saja, jika Pak Wakil Menteri oke, hanya menunggu tanda tangan Menteri ESDM. Itu saja,” tambahnya.

Kontan, Page-14, Monday, Jan 8, 2018

Many Local Oil and Gas Contractors Do not Have Funds

The number of oil and gas blocks in 2017 continues to shrink compared to 2016

 Special Unit for Upstream Oil and Gas Business Activities (SKK Migas) stated that the number of Oil and Gas Working Areas (WK) of oil and gas (oil and gas) in Indonesia at the end of 2017 continues to decrease. On December 31, 2017, the number of oil and gas blocks in Indonesia decreased 25 or 255 blocks of oil and gas.

 While the year 2016 there are 280 blocks of oil and gas. Of the 255 oil and gas blocks by the end of 2017, only 87 have been produced. With details of 73 oil and gas blocks entering the production phase and as many as 14 oil and gas blocks enter into the development stage.

 While as many as 162 is still the exploration stage. Of that number, 88 blocks are still actively working on KKKS and 37 termination processes. Reduced number of oil and gas blocks up to 25 blocks due to contracts with Contractor Cooperation Contracts (KKKS) in the region ends.

 Head of SKK Migas Amien Sunaryadi said that in the expired contract, the government did not renew the contract with KKKS. This is due to the fact that the majority of the KKKS are classified as "poor" category. "The number of KKKS decreased is okay, because most of those terminating are poor class KKKS, want seismic survey to have no money, who want to drill also have no money," he said on Friday (5/1).

 He said that this poor KKKS majority is dominated by local oil and gas companies. And most are still in the exploration stage. But there are two KKKS that enter the stage of exploitation but also problematic. For example Strait Block Long, operator Petroselat.

"The company has been declared bankrupt, meaning that the KKKS is really poor." West Kampar Block operator, PT Sumatera Persada Energi, has also been bankrupt, so the name has emerged two, "said Amien.

 With so many poor KKKS dominating the exploration block, it is not surprising that oil and gas exploration investment in the country is of concern. Amien revealed, from the exploration investment plan in 2017 of US $ 870 million, which realized only US $ 180 million.

 He thinks that number is very small. How ideal? "The bigger the better, but it must be realistic, of the many blocks of exploration, the majority of it turns out that poor working class contracts, if the investment is big, it is difficult," he said.

 While oil and gas investment in 2017 only US $ 9.33 billion, or down compared to 2016 amounted to US $ 12.29 billion. Realization of investment activities in the block production in 2017 only amounted to US $ 9.15 billion. The rest is exploration.

IN INDONESIA

Banyak Kontraktor Migas Lokal Tidak Punya Dana

Jumlah blok migas tahun 2017 terus menyusut dibandingkan dengan tahun 2016

 Satuan Kerja Khusus Pelaksana Kegiatan Usaha Hulu Minyak dan Gas Bumi (SKK Migas) menyatakan jumlah Wilayah kerja (WK) minyak dan gas bumi (migas) atau blok migas di Indonesia pada akhir tahun 2017 terus berkurang. Pada 31 Desember 2017, jumlah blok migas di Indonesia berkurang 25 atau menjadi 255 blok migas.

 Sementara tahun tahun 2016 ada sebanyak 280 blok migas. Dari jumlah 255 blok migas di akhir tahun 2017 itu hanya 87 yang sudah menghasilkan. Dengan rincian 73 blok migas masuk ke tahap produksi dan sebanyak 14 blok migas masuk ke dalam tahap pengembangan.

 Sedangkan sebanyak 162 masih tahap eksplorasi. Dari jumlah itu sebanyak 88 blok masih aktif dikerjakan KKKS dan 37 proses terminasi. Berkurangnya jumlah blok migas hingga 25 blok disebabkan kontrak dengan para Kontraktor Kontrak Kerja Sama (KKKS) di wilayah tersebut berakhir.

 Kepala SKK Migas Amien Sunaryadi mengatakan, pada kontrak yang sudah habis itu pemerintah tidak memperpanjang kontrak dengan KKKS. Ini mengingat mayoritas KKKS tersebut termasuk kategori perusahaan kelas "miskin" "Jumlah KKKS menurun tidak apa-apa, karena kebanyakan yang terminasi ini adalah KKKS kelas miskin, mau seismic survey tidak punya uang, yang mau ngebor juga tidak punya uang," katanya, Jumat (5/1).

 Dia bilang, KKKS miskin ini mayoritas didominasi oleh perusahaan migas lokal. Dan sebagian besar masih dalam tahapan eksplorasi. Tapi ada dua KKKS yang masuk tahap eksploitasi tapi bermasalah juga. Misalnya Blok Selat Panjang, operatornya Petroselat. 

"Perusahaan Itu sudah dinyatakan pailit, KKKS itu berarti betul-betul miskin. Operator Blok West Kampar, PT Sumatera Persada Energi, juga sudah pailit. Jadi nama yang sudah muncul dua itu," jelas Amien.

 Dengan banyaknya KKKS miskin mendominasi blok ekplorasi, tidak mengherankan jika investasi eksplorasi migas di Tanah Air memprihatinkan. Amien mengungkapkan, dari rencana investasi eksplorasi pada tahun 2017 sebesar US$ 870 juta, yang terealisasi hanya sebesar US$ 180 juta.

 Menurutnya jumlah itu kecil sekali. Berapa idealnya? "Semakin besar, semakin baik. Tapi mesti realistis. Dari sekian banyak blok eksplorasi, mayoritas ternyata KKKS kelas miskin itu, kalau diharapkan investasinya besar, susah juga," katanya.

 Sementara investasi migas pada tahun 2017 hanya US$ 9,33 miliar, atau turun dibandingkan 2016 sebesar US$ 12,29 miliar. Realisasi investasi kegiatan di blok produksi pada tahun 2017 hanya sebesar US$ 9,15 miliar. Sisanya eksplorasi.

Kontan, Page-14, Monday, Jan 8, 2018

Upstream Oil and Gas Investment Targeted US $ 12 Billion

SKK Migas targets upstream oil and gas investment this year to reach US $ 12 billion, up 28.62 percent from US $ 9.33 billion in 2017. The realization of upstream oil and gas investment in 2017 amounted to US $ 9.33 billion is only 75.92% of the target of US $ 12.29 billion.

In addition, upstream oil and gas investment in 2017 is still dominated by exploitation activities which reached US $ 9.15 billion, while for exploration activities only US $ 180,000.

Deputy Head of SKK Migas Sukandar said that one of the causes of upstream oil and gas investment is not too interesting is the factor of oil price decline in 2014-2016. On the other hand, capital expenditure this year has to be prepared in the previous years or when oil prices are down.

"So, given the capital expenditure planning, the oil price condition is down, so the capital expenditure prepared must come down," he said.

Associated with the decline in oil prices, oil and gas company operating costs also decreased. Sukandar revealed that the cost of renting a rig would be lowered by the provider when the price of oil is low. So, arguably at a time of decline in oil prices, the costs incurred to drill one well would also be cheaper compared to when the oil price was in the range of US $ 100 per barrel.

"I have heard rig renting rates have fallen by half when oil prices are in a low position. So, the job is the same, but the US dollar is spent less, "he said.

Sukandar also hopes that the current oil price in the range of US $ 60 per barrel can encourage the growth of capital expenditures of oil and gas contractors, such as investment and so on.

Quoted from Bloomberg, trading Friday (5/1) to 15:54 pm, Brent oil prices decreased by 0.57% to US $ 67.68 per barrel, while WTI oil prices also fell 0.52% to US $ 61 , 69 per barrel.

Deputy of Oil and Natural Gas Planning Jaffee Arizon Suardin said this year, SKK Migas targets upstream oil and gas investment to reach US $ 12 billion with special details for exploration block investment reaching US $ 810,000.

Deputy Head of SKK Migas Sukandar also considered the nominal target of investment in this year is quite large with the hope that the whole planning can be executed as a whole.

"There are still ongoing projects, such as the Tangguh Train 3 Refinery, which generates a total investment of US $ 8 billion," said Sukandar.

LIFTING REALIZATION

Meanwhile, the realization of oil ready production or oil and gas lifting in 2017 only reached 98.9% or 1.94 million barrels of oil equivalent per day / boepd.

This is caused by several factors, one of which is the existence of several oil and gas blocks entering the termination period.

The oil and gas blocks that end their contract period will decrease production.

Head of SKK Migas Amien Sunaryadi said that from the study conducted several blocks that recorded a decrease in production due to the expiration of the term of the contract or termination.

"Well, if the determination of the new operator is done away from the expired contract period, usually the existing operators are reluctant to invest larger so that production decreases. Then, new operators have not been appointed, "he said.

Of the total oil and gas lifting of 2017 which only reached 98.9% of the target of APBN-P 2017, in detail for oil lifting of 803,800 barrels per day or just 98.6% of the target, while for gas lifting of 6.38 million cubic feet per day (MMscfd) or reach 99.2% of the target.

Production of 10 large-scale contractors of cooperation (KKKS) did not reach the target. Only four of the 10 contractors are able to exceed the target, ExxonMobil Cepu Ltd. 101.4%, CNOOC SES Ltd. 101.2%, Chevron Indonesia Company of 101, 8%, and Vico 104.8%.

Meanwhile, for gas production, six out of 10 KKKS are able to pass the target. The six KKKS include Conocophillips (Grissik), JOBP-Medco Tomori, Premier Oil, Eni Muara Bakau, Medco Natuna, and Petrochina Jabung.

IN INDONESIA

Investasi Hulu Migas Ditarget US$12 Miliar

SKK Migas menargetkan investasi hulu minyak dan gas bumi pada tahun ini US$12 miliar naik 28,62% dibandingkan dengan realisasi pada 2017 sebesar US$ 9,33 miliar. Realisasi investasi hulu migas pada 2017 sebesar US$9,33 miliar hanya 75,92% dari target US$12,29 miliar.

Selain itu, investasi hulu migas pada 2017 masih didominasi oleh kegiatan eksploitasi yang mencapai US$9,15 miliar, sedangkan untuk kegiatan eksplorasi hanya US$ 180.000.

Wakil Kepala SKK Migas Sukandar mengatakan bahwa salah satu penyebab investasi hulu migas belum terlalu menarik adalah faktor penurunan harga minyak pada 2014-2016. Di sisi lain, belanja modal pada tahun ini sudah harus disiapkan pada tahun-tahun sebelumnya atau pada saat harga minyak sedang turun.

“Jadi, berhubung pada perencanaan belanja modal kondisi harga minyak sedang turun, jadi belanja modal yang disiapkan pasti turun,”

ujarnya.

Terkait dengan penurunan harga minyak, biaya operasional perusahaan migas pun mengalami penurunan. Sukandar mengungkapkan bahwa biaya sewa alat pengeboran (rig) pun akan diturunkan oleh penyedia ketika harga minyak rendah. Jadi, bisa dibilang di saat penurunan harga minyak, biaya yang dikeluarkan untuk mengebor satu sumur juga akan lebih murah dibandingkan dengan pada saat harga minyak berada di kisaran US$100 per barel.

“Saya dengar harga sewa rig sudah turun separuhnya ketika harga minyak berada di posisi rendah. Jadi, pekerjaannya sama, tetapi dolar AS yang dikeluarkan lebih sedikit,” ujarnya.

Sukandar pun berharap agar harga minyak saat ini yang berada pada kisaran US$60 per barel bisa mendorong pertumbuhan belanja modal kontraktor migas, seperti investasi dan sebagainya.

Dikutip dari Bloomberg, pada perdagangan Jumat (5/1) sampai pukul 15.54 WIB, harga minyak Brent mengalami penurunan sebesar 0,57% menjadi US$ 67,68 per barel, sedangkan harga minyak WTI juga turun 0,52% menjadi US$ 61,69 per barel.

Deputi Perencanaan SKK Migas Jaffee Arizon Suardin mengatakan, tahun ini, SKK Migas menargetkan investasi hulu migas bisa mencapai US$ 12 Miliar dengan perincian khusus untuk investasi blok eksplorasi bisa mencapai US$ 810.000.

Wakil Kepala SKK Migas Sukandar pun menilai, target nominal investasi pada tahun ini cukup besar dengan harapan seluruh perencanaan bisa dieksekusi secara keseluruhan.

“Masih ada juga proyek yang masih berlangsung, seperti Kilang Tangguh Train 3 yang mengeluarkan investasi total senilai US$8 miliar,” kata Sukandar.

REALISASI LIFTING

Sementara itu, realisasi produksi minyak siap jual atau lifting migas pada 2017 hanya mencapai 98,9% atau 1,94 juta barel setara minyak per hari (barell of oil equivalent per day/boepd).,

Hal itu disebabkan oleh beberapa faktor, salah satunya adalah adanya beberapa blok migas yang memasuki masa terminasi. Blok migas yang berakhir masa kontraknya tersebut akan mengalami penurunan produksi.

Kepala SKK Migas Amien Sunaryadi mengatakan bahwa dari kajian yang dilakukan beberapa blok yang mencatatkan penurunan produksi karena berhubungan dengan habisnya masa kontrak atau terminasi. 

“Nah, kalau penetapan operator baru itu dilakukan jauh dari masa kontraknya yang habis, biasanya operator existing itu enggan investasi lebih besar sehingga produksi malah menurun. Lalu, operator baru pun belum ditunjuk,” ujarnya.

Dari total lifting migas 2017 yang hanya mencapai 98,9% dari target APBN-P 2017, secara rinci untuk lifting minyak sebesar 803.800 barel per hari atau baru mencapai 98,6% dari target, sedangkan untuk lifting gas sebesar 6,38 juta kaki kubik per hari (MMscfd) atau mencapai 99,2% dari target. 

Produksi dari 10 kontraktor kontrak kerja sama (KKKS) skala besar tidak mencapai target. Hanya empat dari 10 kontraktor yang mampu melampaui target, yaitu ExxonMobil Cepu Ltd. 101,4%, CNOOC SES Ltd. 101,2%, Chevron Indonesia Company sebesar 101 ,8%, dan Vico 104,8%. 

Sementara itu, untuk produksi gas, enam dari 10 KKKS yang mampu melamapui target. Keenam KKKS itu antara lain Conocophillips (Grissik), JOBP-Medco Tomori, Premier Oil, Eni Muara Bakau, Medco Natuna, dan Petrochina Jabung. 

Bisnis Indonesia, Page-30, Monday, Jan 8, 2018

Delayed Again, Delayed Again

The inaugural production of the Masela Block is projected to be delayed and previous estimates in 2026 to 2027 and potentially add to other problems in the process towards production.

Amien Sunaryadi, Head of the Upstream Oil and Gas Upstream Business Unit (SKK Migas), said that the current production phase of the Masela Block enters the preliminary pre-front-end engineering design (pre-FEED) completed in quarter III / 2018.

Amien Sunaryadi

"Once pre-FEED has been completed, the results will be used to create a POD [plans of development] that is expected to be completed by the end of 20l8," he said. Amien continued, after POD is complete, will be done FEED and after that will be done construction.

"With all that, it is expected that the Masela Block production could begin in 2027," he continued. Previously, the government estimated the Masela Block located in the Arafuru Sea, Maluku began production in 2024. However, the government revised the target to 2026.

 the Masela Block

Delays in the development of Masela Block, managed by Inpex Corporation with 65% ownership and Royal Dutch Shell of 35%, potentially trigger additional problems and disruptions. Amien explained, for now there is already a problem, the location that will be used for the construction of an LNG plant has been allocated to sugarcane plantations from one company in Jakarta.

"We are studying [the problem], although from the local government claimed to release the sugarcane plantation permit if Inpex need it," said Amien.

The location of the LNG plant has been agreed to be in West Southeast Maluku, although until the middle of last year there was still a debate between the government of West Southeast Maluku and Southwest Maluku.

"This decision is one of the best steps," Amien said.

Related to gas capacity in Masela block, so far, SKK Migas estimates the capacity of natural gas refinery at 9.5 million tons per year and pipe gas of 150 million cubic feet per day.

Moch. N. Kurniawan, the Senior Specialist of Media Relations Inpex Corporation, declined to comment on the delayed production target of Masela Block.

"Our KKKS [contractor cooperation contract] is under SKK Migas. So, all the developments according to what SKK said, "he said

IN INDONESIA

Tertunda Lagi, Tertunda Lagi

Produksi perdana Blok Masela diproyeksikan tertunda dan perkiraan sebelumnya pada 2026 menjadi 2027 dan berpotensi menambah permasalahan lain dalam proses menuju produksi.

Amien Sunaryadi, Kepala Satuan Kerja Khusus Pelaksana Kegiatan Usaha Hulu Minyak dan Gas Bumi (SKK Migas), mengatakan saat ini tahapan produksi Blok Masela memasuki tahap desain awal atau pre-front end enginering design (pre-FEED) yang diperkirakan rampung pada kuartal III/2018.

“Setelah pre-FEED rampung, hasilnya akan digunakan untuk membuat POD [plans of development/rencana pengembangan Blok Masela] yang diharapkan bisa selesai pada akhir 20l8,” ujarnya. Amien melanjutkan, setelah POD selesai, akan dilakukan FEED dan setelah itu akan dilakukan konstruksi. 

“Dengan semua itu, diperkirakan produksi Blok Masela bisa mulai dilakukan pada 2027,” lanjutnya. Sebelumnya, pemerintah memperkirakan Blok Masela yang terletak di Laut Arafuru, Maluku mulai berproduksi pada 2024. Namun, pemerintah merevisi target tersebut menjadi 2026.

Tertundanya pengembangan Blok Masela, yang dikelola oleh Inpex Corporation dengan kepemilikan 65% dan Royal Dutch Shell sebesar 35%, berpotensi memicu masalah dan gangguan tambahan. Amien menjelaskan, untuk saat ini saja sudah ada masalah, yaitu lokasi yang akan dipakai untuk pembangunan kilang LNG sudah dialokasikan untuk perkebunan tebu dari salah satu perusahaan di Jakarta.

“Kami sedang mempelajari [masalah] itu, walaupun dari pemerintah daerah mengaku akan melepas izin perkebunan tebu bila Inpex memerlukannya,” kata Amien.

Lokasi kilang LNG sudah disepakati berada di Maluku Tenggara Barat, walaupun sampai pertengahan tahun lalu masih ada perdebatan antara pemerintah Maluku Tenggara Barat dan Maluku Barat Daya.

“Keputusan ini menjadi salah satu langkah yang bagus,” ujar Amien.

Terkait kapasitas gas di blok Masela, sejauh ini SKK Migas memperkirakan kapasitas kilang gas alam cair sebesar 9,5 juta ton per tahun dan gas pipa sebesar 150 juta kaki kubik per hari.

Moch. N. Kurniawan, Senior Specialist Media Relations Inpex Corporation, menolak berkomentar terkait tertundanya target produksi Blok Masela.

“Kami KKKS [kontraktor kontrak kerja sama] berada di bawah SKK Migas. Jadi, semua perkembangan sesuai yang dikatakan pihak SKK saja,” ujarnya

Bisnis Indonesia, Page-1, Monday, Jan 8, 2018

Mahakam Block: The Struggle Is Not Over yet!

January 1, 2018 is one of the milestones in Pertamina for officially becoming the manager or operator of Mahakam Block after half a century this block is managed by PT Total E & P Indonesia (TEPI).

With the status as manager of Mahakam, Pertamina's predicate will increase to become oil and gas producer, large in Indonesia with a share of about 40% of national oil and gas production.

After reaching that status, Pertamina can also be said to be master in their own country. But the predicate cannot be achieved easily.

In order for Pertamina to be a host in its own country, in addition to the assertive attitude of Karen Agustiawan (Pertamina President Director 2010-2015) and other directors and directors, Pertamina's long-standing efforts or "struggles" Mahakam managed by Pertamina.

Karen Agustiawan

These stakeholders include national figures, members of the People's Legislative Assembly, activists, Pertamina's union, oil and gas and state-owned enterprises, student executive bodies throughout Indonesia, party officials, mass organizations, NGOs, etc. They have been fighting since 2012 through various advocacy steps such as seminars, attitude statements, demonstrations, raising Petak Mahakam, RDPU to DPR, demands to the Presidential Palace, reporting potential corruption to the KPK, etc.

It turned out that the stakeholders "were forced to advocate in order to face the attitude of the nation's own state officials who are more aligned with foreign interests than defending the interests of SOEs. The two top officials who want foreigners to stay in the Mahakam Block are Jero Wacik and Rudi Rubiandini. In addition, there is also support from officials in SKK Migas and several members of Parliament from a number of parties.

Jero Wacik

To support Total and Inpex, they are reckless and unashamedly uncovering various illogical reasons and public lies. Fortunately, the advocacy movement is getting bigger and continuing so that the two executive officers are void of intention and later went to jail.

Rudi Rubiandini

The irony is that this long struggle has not ended yet. Mahakam block has not been fully controlled by Pertamina. Should have to dispose of some shares (share down), the cost to Pertamina is not yet clear and very vulnerable to be corrupted.

On the contrary, foreign parties have not willingly let go of Mahakam block. In addition, without shame, there are still native people who support foreigners, hunt rente and or "piggyback" to be able to have "shares" Mahakam Block. More ironic, it turns out the attitude of a number of officials in power today is similar to the attitude of previous officials.

This is indicated by the following statements:

First, Minister of ESDM Ignasius Jonan once invited Total to re-manage the Mahakam Block post-2017. The ESDM Ministry said that as long as Pertamina becomes the majority shareholder, the issue of operators will not be questioned. The government only emphasizes that the Mahakam block production remains stable and does not decline. How can operatorship problems be considered unimportant?

Ignasius Jonan

Secondly, the ESDM Minister once said it would give foreigners a chance to own 39% of post-2017 shares. This was again stated by Deputy Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Arcandra Tahar in Jakarta in August 2017 (Bisnis, 25/8). Arcandra also said: The ESDM Minister will issue a Decree to meet the demand of TEPI and Inpex to enlarge the Mahakam block to 39%.

Arcandra Tahar

Arcandra said the space for the Mahakam Block contractor after the contract ends is still referring to the desire of Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources lgnasius Jonan with a maximum portion of 39%. Total is welcome to discuss this with Pertamina and SKK Migas.

Whereas the previous Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Sudirman Said, has set the maximum share down allowed by the government is 30%! The mechanism set forth in Regulation of Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources No. 15/2015 is the government set Pertamina as an operator with 100% right.

Sudirman Said

After that Pertamina can make the reduction of interest (share down) to other parties who give the business the maximum benefit. The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources facilitates the decision-making process in relation to the distribution of interests among the parties. After going through a series of discussions, the ESDM Ministry decided that the Indonesian control 70% shares, while Total and Inpex acquired 30% shares.

In line with Sudirman Said's position in 2015, Pertamina's directors repeatedly said they were not interested in increasing share down to 39%. Pertamina president director Elia Massa Manik said, if above that (30%), the realm is no longer in us. 

Elia Massa Manik

     When I joined (appointed as president), this coincidence has been discussed with the Minister. This instruction is still 30%. So the rising or not share down to the ESDM affairs, "said Manik in Meeting Room of Commission VII, Jakarta, Tuesday (6/6/2017).

Upstream Director of Pertamina Syamsu Alam also behaves similarly.

"To share down there has been no further discussion with Total / Inpex," he said.

Syamsu Alam

The following month, Syamsu Alam said, "This Mahakam block is our mandate, still the same. We are authorized to share down to BUMD 10%. The status is unchanged, the figure of 30% or 39%, which we know is yes 30%. Because it's there

to us."

Until December 26, 2017 Syamsu Alam claimed not to know the government letter to Pertamina related to the change of share down. On the other hand, the Ministry of EMR declared to have issued a letter allowing Pertamina to abandon participation rights in the Mahakam Block by 39% to TEPI & Inpex. Deputy Minister of EMR Arcandra said the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has issued a letter of change regarding the share of the division of Pertamina's participation rights in managing the Mahakam Block which is actually only 30% to 39%.

"It's already up to 39%," said Arcandra at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Jakarta, Friday (22/12/2017).

We are sorry to see the attitudes of ESDM Ministry officials (as well as in other "ministries") above, rather than protecting the state-owned enterprises themselves but are very enthusiastic in supporting foreigners to own 39% shares, whereas with the bigger shares owned by BUMNs, the greater the potential benefits gained for the people to enjoy!

Moreover, this Mahakam block is an oil and gas block that has been producing and the level of business risk has become low. Thus giving the opportunity to share 30% down to foreign, for us (IRESS), it is a policy that

disadvantageous. Especially if it should rise to 39% as the "fought" Jonan et al.

As alluded to above, generally the motives of officials precisely siding foreign countries rather than the state itself are the hunt for rent and political support. However, IRESS also obtained information from a friend, a former High official of the ministry, that there are some unscrupulous officials to share the Mahakam block. He mentioned these elements want to achieve big profits through "cooperation" with foreign companies.

That is why some are struggling so hard to share Mahakam stocks for foreigners need to be allocated more. For friends, prominent figures, activists, and students who have been advocating the Mahakam block, including tens of thousands of signatories of the "Mahakam Block Petition for the People", IRESS appealed to continue guarding and fighting for the optimal Mahakam Block and free from Corruption, Collusion and Nepotism (KKN) for Pertamina.

The struggle is not over.

For that purpose let's continue the advocacy and make sure that the maximum share down is only 30%, the direct appointment of TEPI & Inpex must be canceled, the method of choosing partner through open tender, and the price received by Pertamina to share down is the best and free from corruption.

IN INDONESIA

Blok Mahakam: Perjuangan Belum Usai!

Tanggal 1 Januari 2018  merupakan salah satu in tonggak bersejarah bagi Pertamina karena secara resmi menjadi pengelola atau operator Blok Mahakam setelah setengah abad blok ini dikelola PT Total E&P Indonesia (TEPI).

Dengan status sebagai pengelola Mahakam, predikat Pertamina pun akan meningkat menjadi penghasil migas ter-

besar di Tanah AIr dengan share sekitar 40% dari produksi migas nasional.

Setelah meraih status tersebut, Pertamina pun dapat dikatakan akan menjadi tuan di negeri sendiri. Namun predikat itu tidaklah dapat diraih dengan mudah.

Agar Pertamina menjadi tuan di negeri sendiri, di samping sikap tegas Karen Agustiawan (Dirut Pertamina 2010-2015) serta sejumlah dirut dan direktur lain, upaya atau “perjuangan" panjang stakeholders Pertamina justru sangat berperan untuk memastikan Blok

Mahakam dikelola Pertamina. 

Stakeholders tersebut meliputi tokoh-tokoh nasional, anggota DPR, para aktivis, serikat pekerja Pertamina, migas dan BUMN , badan-badan eksekutif mahasiswa seluruh Indonesia, pengurus partai, ormas, LSM, dll. Mereka berjuang sejak 2012 melalui berbagai langkah advokasi berupa seminar, pernyataan sikap, demonstrasi, penggalangan Petisi Mahakam, RDPU ke DPR, penyampaian

tuntutan ke Istana Presiden, pelaporan potensi korupsi ke KPK,dll.

Ternyata para stakeholders “terpaksa melakukan advokasi dalam rangka menghadapi sikap bangsa sendiri para pejabat negara yang lebih memihak asing daripada membela kepentingan BUMN. Dua pejabat utama yang menginginkan asing tetap bertahan di Blok Mahakam adalah Jero Wacik dan Rudi Rubiandini. Di samping itu ada pula dukungan dari pejabat di SKK Migas dan beberapa anggota DPR dari sejumlah partai. 

Untuk mendukung Total dan Inpex, mereka nekat dan tidak malu mengungkap berbagai alasan tidak logis dan kebohongan publik. Untunglah gerakan advokasi semakin besar dan terus berlanjut sehingga kedua pejabat eksekutif tersebut batal menjalankan niat dan belakangan justru masuk penjara.

Ironisnya saat ini perjuangan panjang tersebut belum juga berakhir. Blok Mahakam belum seutuhnya dikuasai Pertamina.

Seandainya harus melepas sebagian saham (share down), biaya yang harus dibayar ke Pertamina pun belum jelas jumlahnya serta sangat rawan untuk dikorupsi.

Sebaliknya pihak-pihak asing belum rela melepas kenikmatan Blok Mahakam. Di samping itu, tanpa rasa malu, masih ada saja oknum pribumi yang mendukung asing, berburu rente dan atau “membonceng" untuk dapat memiliki "saham" Blok Mahakam.

Lebih ironis, ternyata sikap sejumlah pejabat yang berkuasa saat ini mirip dengan sikap pejabat sebelumnya. 

Hal ini terindikasi dari pernyataan-pernyataan berikut :

Pertama, Menteri ESDM Ignasius Jonan pernah mempersilakan Total mengelola kembali Blok Mahakam pasca-2017. Kementerian ESDM mengatakan asalkan Pertamina menjadi pemegang saham mayoritas, mengenai masalah operator tidak akan dipersoalkan. Pemerintah hanya menekankan agar produksi Blok Mahakam tetap stabil dan tidak mengalami pknurunan. Bagai-

mana bisa masalah operatorship dianggap tidak penting?

Kedua, Menteri ESDM pernah mengatakan akan memberikan kesempatan kepada asing memiliki 39% saham pasca-2017. Hal ini kembali dinyatakan Wakil Menteri ESDM Arcandra Tahar di Jakarta pada Agustus 2017 (Bisnis, 25/8). Arcandra juga pernah mengatakan: Menteri ESDM akan menerbitkan Surat keputusan untuk memenuhi tuntutan TEPI dan Inpex untuk memperbesar saham Blok Mahakam menjadi 39%.

Kata Arcandra, ruang bagi kontraktor Blok Mahakam setelah kontrak berakhir masih mengacu pada keinginan Menteri ESDM lgnasius Jonan dengan porsi maksimum 39%. Total dipersilakan untuk mendiskusikan hal ini dengan Pertamina dan SKK Migas.

Padahal Menteri ESDM sebelumnya, Sudirman Said, telah menetapkan share down maksimum yang diperkenankan pemerintah adalah 30%! Mekanisme yang diatur dalam Peraturan Menteri ESDM Nomor 15/2015 ini adalah pemerintah menetapkan Pertamina sebagai operator dengan hak 100%. 

Setelah itu Pertamina dapat melakukan pengurangan interes (share down) kepada pihak lain yang secara bisnis memberikan manfaat maksimal. Kementrian ESDM memfasilitasi proses pengambilan keputusan berkaitan dengan pembagian interes di antara para pihak. Setelah melalui serangkaian pembahasan, Kementerian ESDM memutuskan pihak Indonesia mengontrol saham 70%, sedangkan Total dan Inpex memperoleh saham 30%.

Sejalan dengan sikap Sudirman Said pada 2015 tersebut, direksi Pertamina berulang kali mengatakan tidak berminat meningkatkan share down menjadi 39%. Dirut Pertamina Elia Massa Manik mengatakan, Jika di atas itu (30%), ranahnya bukan lagi ada pada kami. Sewaktu saya join (diangkat menjadi dirut), kebetulan ini sudah dibicarakan dengan Pak Menteri. Instruksi ini pun sampai seka-

rang masih 30%. Jadi naik atau tidaknya share down menjadi urusan ESDM," kata Manik di Ruang Rapat Komisi VII, Jakarta, Selasa (6/ 6/ 2017).

     Direktur Hulu Pertamina Syamsu Alam juga bersikap sama. 

“Untuk share down belum ada pembicaraan lebih lanjut dengan Total/ Inpex,” katanya.

     Bulan berikutnya, Syams Alam  berkata, “Blok Mahakam ini mandat yang kita terima, masih sama. Kita diberi kewenangan untuk melakukan share down ke BUMD 10%. Status itu tidak berubah, angka 30% atau 39%, yang kita kenal itu ya 30%. Karena itu yang ada pada kita." 

Hingga 26 Desember 2017 Syamsu mengaku belum mengetahui surat pemerintah ke Pertamina terkait dengan perubahan share down. Di sisi lain, Kementrian ESDM menyatakan telah mengeluarkan surat yang memperbolehkan Pertamina melepas hak partisipasi di Blok Mahakam sebesar 39% ke TEPI & Inpex. Wakil Menteri ESDM Arcandra mengatakan, Kementrian ESDM sudah menerbitkan surat perubahan mengenai porsi pembagian hak partisipasi Pertamina dalam mengelola Blok Mahakam yang sebenarnya hanya 30% menjadi 39%. 

"Kan sudah ada suratnya. Boleh up to 39%," kata Arcandra di Kantor Kementrian ESDM, Jakarta, Jumat (22/12/2017).

Kita miris melihat sikap pejabat-pejabat Kementerian ESDM (juga di “kementrian lain") yang ada di atas. Mereka bukannya melindungi BUMN bangsa sendiri, tetapi justru sangat antusias mendukung asing untuk memiliki saham 39%. Padahal dengan semakin besar saham yang dimiliki BUMN, semakin besar pula potensi keuntungan yang diperoleh untuk dinikmati rakyat! 

Apalagi Blok Mahakam ini merupakan blok migas yang telah berproduksi dan tingkat risiko bisnisnya pun menjadi rendah. Dengan begitu memberikan kesempatan share down 30% saja kepada asing, bagi kami (IRESS), sudah merupakan kebijakan yang merugikan. Apalagi jika harus naik menjadi 39% seperti yang "diperjuangkan"Jonan dkk.

Seperti disinggung di atas, umumnya motif oknum pejabat justru memihak asing daripada BUMN bangsa sendiri adalah perburuan rente dan dukungan politik. Namun IRESS juga memperoleh informasi dari seorang sahabat, mantan pejabat Tinggi kementerian, bahwa ada beberapa oknum pejabat yang sangat berminat untuk ikut memiliki saham Blok Mahakam. Beliau menyebutkan, oknurn-oknum ini ingin meraih untung besar melalui "kerja sama" dengan perusahaan asing tersebut. 

ltulah  sebabnya mengapa ada yang berjuang habis-habisan agar share down saham Mahakam untuk asing justru perlu dialokasikan lebih besar. Bagi para sahabat, tokoh, aktivis, dan mahasiswa yang selama ini ikut mengadvokasi Blok Mahakam, termasuk puluhan ribu penanda-tangan “Petisi Blok Mahakam untuk Rakyat", IRESS mengimbau untuk tetap mengawal dan memperjuangkan penguasaan Blok Mahakam secara optimal dan bebas dari KKN bagi Pertamina.

Perjuangan belum usai.

Untuk itu mari kita lanjutkan advokasi dan pastikan bahwa share down maksimal hanya 30%, penunjukan langsung TEPI & Inpex harus dibatalkan, metode pemilihan partner melalui tender terbuka, serta harga yang diterima Pertamina untuk share down tersebut adalah yang terbaik dan bebas dari korupsi.

Koran Sindo, Page-4, Saturday, Jan 6, 2018

Govt upbeat over oil and gas sector

Indonesia believes it is time for it to revive its upstream oil and gas sector this year in the backdrop of recovering global crude prices.

Investment in the upstream oil and gas sector plunged from an annual figure of US$19.34 billion in 2013 to $9.33 billion in 2017, or 75.9 percent of the original target stated in last year’s revised state budget, according to the Upstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Special Task Force (SKK-Migas).

Investment for exploration activities also fell from $1.87 billion in 2013 to a mere $180 million last year, despite Indonesia’s urgent need to boost its petroleum reserves. Ofiicial data shows that the amount of proven crude oil reserves in the country dropped to 3.3 billion barrels at the end of 2016 from 3.69 billion in 2013.

SKK Migas deputy head Sukandar said such a situation was driven by a significant drop in global crude prices in recent years, which, eventually forced contractors to halt their investment. 

“But now, as global crude prices have started to recover, we believe investors will spend more money for upstream activities,” he told a press conference on Friday.

The price of global benchmark Brent crude reached last year’s peak of $67.02 per barrel on Dec. 26, after falling to $ 44.82 per barrel on June 21. The price even hovered at around $68 per barrel on Friday. With the current crude prices, Sukandar said upstream contractors Would be able to gain an internal rate of return (IRR) of around 20-percent, which he said would be more than enough to attract investors.

SKK Migas is upbeat to see investment in the upstream oil and gas sector reached $12.6 billion this year, $810 million of which is projected to come from exploration, while the remainder will be from exploitation.

This year, the task force aims to see contractors conduct 103 exploratory drillings, 2D seismic surveys covering 1,759 kilometers and 3D seismic surveys covering 356 square kilometers at various exploration working areas.

It also expects contractors to drill 175 development wells as well as undertake 2D and 3D seismic surveys covering 3,150 km and 3,011 sq km at various exploitation working areas.

“Besides, we put high hopes on the government's efforts to offer a number oil and gas working areas through auction,” SKK Migas head Amien Sunaryadi said. “We will be able to boost exploration activities if there are new contractors that really have the financial capability to do so.”

The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry has recently found bidders for five of 15 oil and gas working areas offered through last year’s auction. Among the bidders are the United Arab Emirates-based Mubadala Petroleum, Spain’s Repsol Exploracion SA and a consortium consisting of the United Kingdom-based Premier Oil Far East, Mubadala Petroleum and Singapore’s Kris Energy.

The ministry is set to announce the name of the tender winners in February and sign contracts with them in March. The ministry will also open another tender process in January for 22 oil and gas blocks that failed to attract investors at auctions in 2015 and 2016, as well as for 11 other new blocks.

“We are still evaluating which blocks will be put up for auction as we will only offer blocks with good quality seismic data,” said the ministry’s secretary-general, Ego Syahrial.

SKK Migas also plans to see seven upstream oil and gas blocks go on stream in 2018 with an estimated peak production rate of 7,500 barrels of oil per day (bopd) and 145 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) of gas. Among the operators of those blocks are subsidiaries of energy firms PT Medco Energi Internasional and Pertamina.

Throughout last year, 14 new upstream projects were on stream with peak production rates of 21,280 bopd and 1,193.7 mmscfd of gas.

“We have also received three plans of development [PODS] for gas projects with combined reserves of around 3.5 trillion cubic feet,” Sukandar said. 

The PODs are for the Marakes Field operated by Italy-based Eni in East Kalimantan, the Asap, Kido and Merah fields operated by Malaysia’s Genting Oil in West Papua as well as the Senoro-Tolili field jointly operated by Pertamina and Medco in Central Sulawesi.

“Output from these fields will be a significant contribution to national gas production,” Sukandar said.

The country’s gas lifting the colloquial term for ready-to-sell production - stood at 1.14 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd) in 2017, slightly below the original target of 1.15 million boepd.

Meanwhile, oil lifting reached 803,847 bopd last year, also below the target of 815,000 bopd. Indonesia was still able to record $13.14 billion in state revenues from the upstream oil and gas sector last year, surpassing the target of $12.2 billion, thanks to the surging crude prices. 

At the same time, cost recovery claims from upstream contractors amounted to $11.32 billion, surpassing the target of $10.71 billion. The biggest claim came from production costs worth 85.3 billion, followed by a depreciation component of $3.27 billion, which comprises claims from previous expenditures made by contractors before their fields came on stream.

“Indeed, the increasing crude prices have led to bigger state revenues. But on the other hand, such a situation has also allowed contractors to include some costs that were previously unrecovered in their claims, as stipulated in our contracts with them,” Amien said.

Jakarta Post, Page-13, Saturday 6, 2018