Italian energy giant Eni Group has discovered a massive natural gas field offshore East Kalimantan, Indonesia. The Indonesian government expects this will significantly boost oil and gas output and greatly enhance Indonesia’s energy security.
According to Lianhe Zaobao, Eni Group released a statement on the evening of the 20th, stating that according to preliminary exploration results, the Geliga-1 exploration well, located in the Ganal block of the Kutai Basin, is estimated to contain about 5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and 300 million barrels of condensate.
The statement added that this new discovery “releases a large amount of new resources for both domestic and international markets.”
Indonesia’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Arifin Tasrif, described this as a “major discovery,” and said the exploration outcome would provide a “shot in the arm” for Indonesia’s oil and gas production.
According to projections by the Indonesian government, Eni Group’s natural gas daily production in Indonesia will increase from the current 600–700 million standard cubic feet to 2 billion standard cubic feet in 2028 and further to 3 billion standard cubic feet two years later. In addition, condensate production is expected to reach 90,000 barrels per day by 2028 and could rise to 150,000 barrels per day by 2030. The increase in condensate production will help Indonesia reduce its oil imports.
● New Discovery to Help Indonesia Achieve Energy Self-Sufficiency
The new discovery by Eni Group aligns with the Indonesian government’s strategy to retain more energy resources domestically in order to achieve energy self-sufficiency. Achieving energy self-sufficiency is one of President Prabowo’s governing objectives.
Tasrif stated that Eni Group’s new discovery “proves that Indonesia still has great potential to tap into oil and gas resources, making oil and gas the backbone of national energy security and self-sufficiency.”
The Ganal block in the Kutai Basin is 82% owned by Eni Group and 18% owned by Sinopec.
Eni Group said exploration activities along the eastern coast of Kalimantan will continue, with plans to add one more well this year and two additional wells in 2027.
The Group stated that this discovery supports plans to accelerate development using existing infrastructure and could significantly boost output, including the establishment of a third natural gas hub in the region.