Territorial Dispute Hampers Eni's Exploration in Ambalat

Italy's Eni still cannot resume the upstream exploration in the Ambalat Block offshore, Indonesia, due to an unresolved territorial dispute between Malaysian and Indonesia. Both countries have laid claims to the potential oil and gas-rich Ambalat region off Borneo's east coast and handed out contracts to major oil companies in the area.

Azhari Idris, the Upstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Special Task Force's (SKK Migas) head of Kalimantan and Sulawesi office, told Petromindo that Eni had been closely monitoring the government's instruction on the exploration plan in Ambalat. "Eni did not submit any work plan in Ambalat for 2022. They're still waiting for a decision from the Indonesian government through the Foreign Affairs Ministry for conducting activities in disputed territory," Idris said.