RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – The discovery of new energy reserves has opened opportunities to boost Indonesia’s national oil and gas production, with the transmigration area in East Kalimantan now a focal point in the country’s energy security strategy.

The Special Task Force for Upstream Oil and Gas Business Activities (SKK Migas) has identified the potential for 13 new wells in Samboja, Kutai Kartanegara Regency. The site is projected to hold nearly 1 million barrels of oil and significant gas reserves.

“The gas potential is 11.64 billion cubic feet, and the oil potential is 1 million barrels,” said SKK Migas Head Djoko Siswanto during a press conference following a meeting with the Minister of Transmigration at the ministry’s office in Jakarta on Monday, May 4, 2026, as reported by Antara.

Djoko explained that all of these wells will be developed by PT Pertamina Hulu Sanga Sanga (PHSS). One of the main wells, MUT‑346 OS HZ, is targeted to produce up to 7.3 million cubic feet of gas per day (MMcf/d) and has approximately 3.6 billion cubic feet of reserves.

Assuming a gas price of USD 7.7 per Million British Thermal Units (MMBTU) and an exchange rate of IDR 17,000/USD for the 2026–2031 period, the reserve value is estimated at IDR 471 billion (USD 27.08 million). The project also has the potential to generate gross revenue of about IDR 355 billion, with a post‑tax contribution of around IDR 87 billion.

Djoko said drilling will begin shortly. “We’ll start drilling next month,” he noted.

Currently, PHSS manages 79 wells within the Samboja Transmigration Land Management Area. This exploration strengthens cooperation between the energy sector and the utilization of transmigration land.

Djoko emphasized that support from the Ministry of Transmigration is crucial to accelerating the project, adding that Indonesia’s rising energy demand requires optimizing domestic resources.

He stressed that the discovery of these new reserves is highly strategic, given strong public demand for oil and gas. “Finding oil abroad is not easy, and even if available, the price is high,” he said. ***