Shell and Kuwait's KUFPEC Conclude Joint Study on Five Indonesian Oil and Gas Blocks

The Special Task Force for Upstream Oil and Gas Business Activities (SKK Migas) has revealed that the joint study conducted by Shell Plc and the Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company (KUFPE) across five oil and gas working areas is currently in the finalisation stage.

The Head of SKK Migas, Djoko Siswanto, stated that the joint study encompasses five oil and gas blocks, consisting of two offshore working areas and three onshore working areas.

“Yes, there are several, five joint studies, two offshore and three onshore, if I am not mistaken,” said Djoko at the DPR RI Building, as reported on Thursday (4/6/2026).

Furthermore, Djoko mentioned that the progress of the joint study is now in its final stages and is expected to be completed soon.

“In the finalisation stage, hopefully, it will be completed quickly; the blocks have been auctioned and are being worked on,” he added.

Previously, the Deputy for Exploration, Development, and Working Area Management of SKK Migas, Rikky Rahmat Firdaus, stated that in March last year, the agency was directly invited by Shell to its headquarters to reassure investors.

As a result of that meeting, Shell attended the Indonesia Petroleum Association (IPA) event and purchased data through the Membership Data Room (MDR).

“The Head [of SKK Migas] instructed us to invite Shell to Indonesia for the IPA event; we invited them back, they attended, and they verbally expressed their interest in re-entering Indonesia,” said Rikky at the SKK Migas Office, as reported on Tuesday (22/7/2025).

According to Rikky, evidence of Shell’s interest in Indonesian upstream oil and gas investment was demonstrated when the global giant purchased MDR data worth US$30,000. Consequently, the agency aims to ensure that Shell feels comfortable managing various investment risks in Indonesia.

“This is proven by Shell purchasing data through the MDR. They participated by purchasing US$30,000 worth of data, which has contributed to the state, to explore available opportunities,” he said.