Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The governments of Indonesia and Senegal are committed to developing private business partnership in the oil and gas sector, stated a press release from the Indonesian Embassy in Dakar made available to ANTARA here, Monday.

"Senegal views Indonesia as a country that is advanced in the use of petroleum exploration technology in the offshore and liquefied natural gas processing," Indonesian Ambassador to Senegal Mansyur Pangeran remarked in the press release.

Pangeran said he had met Senegals Energy and Renewable Energy Development Minister Thierno Alassane Sall in Dakar last Thursday to discuss the matter.

"This meeting is an attempt to work on exploring opportunities for cooperation and promotion of the potential of each country in the areas of procurement and processing of energy resources," he revealed.

According to Pangeran, the Government of Senegal requires huge investments in the energy sector to meet its daily domestic energy demand of 500 megawatts.

"Senegal has also invited investors from friendly countries to renew the installation of power distribution lines and forms of renewable energy, such as solar and wind, which will also be developed, starting 2018," Ambassador Pangeran noted.

Senegal has recently discovered oil and gas reserves in the northern region, which are estimated at 500 million barrels.

In the meantime, at a meeting with the ambassador, Minister Alassane said Senegal is optimistic of establishing cooperation with Indonesia for building offshore oil rigs.

This form of cooperation is expected to be carried out through the State-Owned Enterprises and private parties of both countries, according to the Indonesian ambassador.

Senegal is a country on the west coast of Africa and has a rich French colonial legacy and abundant natural resources.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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