By: Ryan Hidayat )*
The Rokan Block in Riau is again regulated by the Indonesian government. Appreciation must be given because for decades, foreign private companies have been drilling for oil there.
The Rokan Block is a very large oil rig in Riau, and for 50 years it has been managed by foreigners. People should not be surprised because of its history, indeed they were the ones who discovered these natural resources, even before Indonesia’s independence. With technology and of course money, they finally got permission to drill oil from the government during the New Order era.
However, currently foreign companies have withdrawn regularly because the Rokan Block has been officially returned to the Indonesian government. This is in accordance with the government’s mandate through the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, in 2018, and officially on August 9, 2021 the Rokan Block is managed by PT Pertamina. This takeover is official and the foreign company is grateful for being trusted to drill long ago, so that it is now willing to stop.
The drilling target is 1 million barrels of oil per day by 2030 and 12 BSCFD of gas. All are regulated by SKK Migas as the government representative in Riau. Meanwhile, 80 wells have been drilled, and during the transition period, drilling will still be carried out. SKK Migas has worked hard to ensure that everything goes smoothly during the transition.
Pertamina President Director Nicke Widyawati stated that this is a historic moment for all of us. Where the Rokan Block is finally managed by BUMN, and will support national energy. This acquisition also provides broad benefits for the country and becomes a locomotive for development programs and the national economy.
In a sense, we can maximize the results from the Rokan Block to support national energy and be processed into fuel for our own country. So it will not depend on export results, because it already has oil and gas self-sufficiency.
Appreciation should be given to the Indonesian government for successfully shifting the position of foreign companies to SOEs, which regulate all matters in the Rokan Block. This means that later all drilling results will go into the government’s pocket and will be very helpful, because world oil prices are still stable and are expected to rise again. So that it can have an impact on the state budget, because the state’s finances are always in a surplus.
When the state’s finances are always in a surplus, it will have a positive impact because the economy will continue to be stable and rising, and during the pandemic we will not fall into a recession or economic crisis volume 2. So that the people will be more prosperous.
Especially during the pandemic, the government needs a lot of cash to support various programs to overcome the effects of the corona storm. So it is hoped that from the results of this oil drilling, some can be channeled into these programs, and we do not depend on the IMF or other debt providers. Do not let the state debt increase because it will burden the people.
In addition, when a BUMN is trusted to manage the Rokan Block, it means that it already has high-quality human resources, so that it can drill oil with high yields and remain safe. This means that the quality of the original Indonesian employees has been recognized for their intelligence and tenacity, so that they can work in the Rokan Block, as a legendary oil drilling site. They feel honored to be able to work there.
The return of the Rokan Block in Riau to the government must be appreciated by all Indonesian people, because the government has succeeded in lobbying and fighting for the oil block to return to the state. If the Rokan Block is managed by a BUMN, the results will be maximized and can help Indonesia’s financial condition.
)* The author is a contributor to the Pertiwi Institute