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Indonesia restarts Tuna gas project in North Natuna Sea
Prime Group, the project operator, said activities linked to the Tuna production-sharing contract have resumed, with early engineering for offshore production facilities planned for September.
Indonesia has restarted activities tied to its long-delayed Tuna gas project in the North Natuna Sea, according to SCMP Economy, after years of commercial uncertainty and external pressure related to the South China Sea.
Prime Group, an Indonesian firm that took over operatorship from Britain’s Harbour Energy, told This Week in Asia that activities associated with the Tuna production-sharing contract have resumed under applicable regulatory requirements. The Tuna field sits within Indonesia’s exclusive economic zone in waters where Beijing has previously objected to Jakarta’s drilling activity.
The project’s next steps also appear linked to hiring. Job postings by Prime Group through its subsidiaries indicate recruitment for several Tuna-related roles connected to early engineering for offshore production facilities, with that early work planned for September.
The restart comes alongside complications from sanctions and compliance concerns, as a Russian state-owned partner remains involved. SCMP Economy notes that Indonesia’s energy ministry said in June that Russian state-owned oil company Zarubezhneft, holding the remaining 50 percent through ZN Asia, was ready to continue the delayed project with government support.