Two Gas Reserves Discovered in East Kalimantan, DPR Member: Strengthen National Energy Resilience
Jakarta, VIVA – Member of DPR RI Commission VII, Rusli Habibie, expressed appreciation for the government’s achievement through the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) along with SKK Migas and the cooperation contract contractor in discovering two major gas reserves in the East Kalimantan region, namely in the Geliga and Gula structures in the Ganal Block.
Rusli assessed that these two discoveries represent a strategic achievement demonstrating the success of upstream oil and gas exploration approaches that are increasingly data-based and supported by improvements in the investment climate in the energy sector.
“We appreciate this achievement as a result of the consistency of exploration policies and the strengthening of upstream oil and gas sector governance. This serves as a positive signal that the potential of the Kutai Basin remains highly prospective and holds significant opportunities for development,” said Rusli in a written statement on Tuesday, 21 April 2026.
He explained that, based on the government’s presentation, the accumulated potential from these two discoveries is estimated to reach around 7 TCF of gas, with additional significant and high-economic-value condensate potential.
“Technocratically, reserves addition on this scale will contribute to increasing the national reserve replacement ratio (RRR), while strengthening projections for domestic gas supplies in the medium term,” he clarified.
According to him, this discovery is also relevant in addressing challenges of domestic gas supply limitations, particularly to support industrial needs, gas-based electricity, and the downstream agenda being promoted by the government.
“We need to ensure that the discovered gas can be optimally utilised for domestic needs, thereby providing a real multiplier effect on the national economy,” he emphasised.
Furthermore, he encouraged accelerating the field development stages, from preparing the plan of development (PoD) to taking the final investment decision (FID), with support for regulatory certainty, competitive fiscal schemes, and energy infrastructure integration to strengthen national energy resilience.