Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Confirms Zarubezhneft of Russia Will Continue Tuna Block Development in June 2026

ESDM Confirms Zarubezhneft of Russia Will Continue Tuna Block Development in June 2026

• VIVA.co.id/Mohammad Yudha Prasetya

Jakarta, VIVA – Deputy Minister of ESDM, Yuliot Tanjung, stated that the Russian oil company, Zarubezhneft, will continue the development of the Tuna Block in June 2026, after a delay caused by the withdrawal of Harbour Energy.

The Tuna Block project was delayed due to the withdrawal of Premier Oil, a subsidiary of Harbour Energy, which was Zarubezhneft’s partner in this project.

Yuliot said that he had also met with Zarubezhneft and discussed the continuation of the delayed Tuna Block project.

“Zarubezhneft has expressed its commitment to continuing the project next June,” said Yuliot in a statement on Friday, May 15, 2026.

He explained that the meeting with Zarubezhneft officials was held on the sidelines of a working visit to attend the 14th Joint Commission Meeting between Indonesia and Russia in the field of Trade, Economic and Technical Cooperation, which took place in Kazan, Russia.

At the meeting, Zarubezhneft expressed its readiness to continue the Tuna Block project next June.

“The government will provide support for the continuation of this project,” he said.

It is known that Zarubezhneft began its project in Indonesia by acquiring a 50 percent participating interest (PI) in the Tuna Project in the Natuna Sea through its subsidiary, ZN Asia Ltd., in 2020.

At this meeting, Zarubezhneft also expressed its desire to work on other oil and gas projects in Indonesia to support increased Indonesian oil and gas production, through Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) technology and the reactivation of idle wells.

Zarubezhneft’s interest in investing in Indonesia has been recorded in the Agreed Minutes document of the 14th Joint Commission Meeting between Indonesia and Russia.

Russia noted 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 for the completion of compliance processes for companies nominated by Zarubezhneft to begin organizing oil supplies to Indonesia.