PHE Breaks World Record: Adds Largest Exploration Area, Pursues New Reserves

PT Pertamina Hulu Energi (PHE) is aggressively expanding its ‘fields of the future’ to safeguard national energy security. Amidst the challenges of rising energy demand and the natural production decline of mature fields, PHE is accelerating the expansion of its exploration portfolio through the acquisition of new working areas and collaboration with world-class oil and gas companies. This move is not merely a business strategy, but a long-term investment to ensure Indonesia has a sustainable oil and gas supply. Over the past five years, PHE has actively opened opportunities for new reserve discoveries through Joint Studies and exploration expansion, both domestically and abroad. Data from the Directorate General of Oil and Gas shows PHE holds the highest number of Joint Studies in Indonesia. As of July 2026, the company has secured 12 Joint Studies, comprising 10 ongoing studies, one completed, and one awaiting government approval. These collaborations involve global energy giants such as Petronas, BP, ENI, KUFPEC, SK Earthon, PetroChina, POSCO, TPAO, and Woodside. Cooperation has also been extended to Malaysia through a Technical Evaluation Agreement scheme with the Malaysia Petroleum Management. This international synergy facilitates the sharing of technology, expertise, and experience to identify new oil and gas basins that could become future sources of Indonesia’s energy reserves. The trust placed by these global companies also serves as evidence that PHE is increasingly recognised as a competitive National Oil Company on the international stage. Beyond strengthening collaborations, PHE has added nine new exploration working areas during the 2023–2026 period. Eight are located in Indonesia, namely Bunga, Peri Mahakam, East Natuna, Melati, Binaiya, Lavender, Bobara, and North Ketapang, with one block in Malaysia, SK-510. PHE has prepared various exploration programmes across these new areas, ranging from geological and geophysical studies to seismic data acquisition and exploration drilling. All activities are directed at accelerating the discovery of new oil and gas reserves to underpin future national production. PHE Exploration Director Asep Samsul Arifin stressed that exploration is a strategic investment determining the future of Indonesia’s upstream oil and gas industry. ‘Exploration is a long-term investment for the sustainability of the upstream oil and gas industry. Through the expansion of working areas, strengthening collaboration with global partners, and the application of increasingly advanced exploration technology, we continue to build a quality portfolio to increase the chances of discovering new oil and gas resources. This step is part of PHE’s commitment to supporting national energy security and independence,’ he stated. This aggressive performance has also gained global recognition. According to S&P Global 2026 data for the 2021–2025 period, PHE is recorded as the National Oil Company with the largest addition of new exploration area in the world, reaching more than 90,000 square kilometres. This expansion surpasses other prominent national oil companies such as Petronas, PTTEP, ADNOC, and Sinopec. The achievement positions PHE as a key driver in the global search for new oil and gas reserves, while simultaneously reinforcing its contribution to President Prabowo Subianto’s Asta Cita agenda, particularly in achieving energy self-sufficiency through increased exploration, new reserve discoveries, and strengthened national production capacity. Going forward, PHE is committed to continuously expanding its portfolio of exploration and production working areas, both in Indonesia and abroad. By leveraging technological innovation, global collaboration, and the principles of sustainability and good governance, the company is optimistic it can become the main driver towards Indonesia’s energy sovereignty.