Russian Firm to Continue Developing Natuna Oil and Gas Project — Who Are Its Partners?

Jakarta – The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) has confirmed that the Russian oil company Zarubezhneft will continue investing in Indonesia, specifically in the Tuna Block. However, Harbour Energy, the partner and operator of the Working Area located in the North Natuna Sea, has decided to withdraw from the project.

Director General of Oil and Gas (Dirjen Migas) at the ESDM, Laode Sulaeman, said that Zarubezhneft’s plans to continue investing in the Tuna Block are still under consideration. However, a replacement for Harbour Energy in the oil block has already been identified. “We are waiting, we are just waiting. Not Pertamina,” Laode said at the Ministry on Monday, 18 June 2026.

Previously, SKK Migas Deputy for Exploration, Development, and Management of Working Areas, Rikky Rahmat Firdaus, explained that Harbour’s decision to withdraw was driven by United States sanctions on the Russian company. “So for POD 1 Tuna, there was a position from KKKS Harbour previously that they couldn’t proceed if there were sanctions against their partner. In this context Harbour apparently also has investment interests elsewhere in the North Sea,” he said at SKK Migas’s office on Monday (21 July 2025).

Nevertheless, the agency remains focused on ensuring the Tuna Block produces according to the schedule. Therefore, SKK Migas is seeking a new operator to replace Harbour to continue the Front End Engineering Design (FEED) phase to meet the production targets.

As noted, the Tuna Block is operated by the UK-based Harbour Energy through Premier Oil Tuna B.V. Zarubezhneft is a state-owned Russian oil company holding a 50% participation in the Tuna Block via its subsidiary, ZN Asia Ltd.