Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources announced that Russian oil and gas company Zarubezhneft has announced its intention to resume development on the Tuna Block in June, following a delay due to Harbour Energy's withdrawal.

"We met with Zarubezhneft and discussed the continuation of the delayed Tuna Block project. Zarubezhneft conveyed its commitment to resuming the project in June next month," Deputy Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Yuliot Tanjung said in a statement on Friday.

Yuliot held talks with executives of Russian oil and gas firm Joint Stock Company Zarubezhneft (JSC Zarubezhneft) during a working visit to attend the 14th RI-Russia Joint Commission Meeting on Trade, Economic, and Technical Cooperation in Kazan, Russia.

At that meeting, Zarubezhneft expressed its readiness to resume the Tuna Block project in June, previously delayed due to the withdrawal of Premier Oil, a subsidiary of Harbour Energy, which was Zarubezhneft's partner in the project.

"The government will provide support for the continuation of this project," Yuliot ensured.

Zarubezhneft has been operating in Indonesia since acquiring a 50 percent participating interest (PI) in the Tuna Project in the Natuna Sea through its subsidiary, ZN Asia Ltd., in 2020.

At the meeting, Zarubezhneft also expressed interest in pursuing other oil and gas projects in Indonesia to help boost the country's oil and gas production through Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) technology and the reactivation of idle wells.

Their interest for investment in Indonesia was documented in the Agreed Minutes of the 14th RI-Russia Joint Commission Meeting (SKB).

Russia noted JSC Zarubezhneft's interest in expanding and strengthening cooperation with Indonesian partners, including participation in new projects with Indonesian oil and gas companies.

Russia also requested support in completing the compliance process for companies nominated by Zarubezhneft to begin organizing oil supplies to Indonesia.

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