Ambon, Maluku (ANTARA News) - The central government intends to auction three off-shore oil and gas blocks in Maluku province to among companies engaged in petrochemical deposit exploration, a local official said here Wednesday.

"We learned about the central government`s plan at an expose of the energy and mineral resources ministry`s work program in Jakarta recently," Melky Frans, chairman of Maluku`s Provincial Legislative Council (DPRD), said.

The three blocks are one located off the Yamdena coast in Maluku Tenggara Barat district, the Selaru and Babar blocks in Maluku Barat Daya district.

Melky said if explorations in these blocks yielded the expected results, Maluku could become one of the biggest oil and gas producing regions in Indonesia.

According to the results of survey conducted by the energy and mineral resources ministry, at least 16 oil and gas basins lay scattered in Maluku province.

"If these blocks came to full production, the local community`s welfare would obviously be advantaged as the oil and gas lifting activities would also contribute significantly to Maluku`s indigenous regional income, " he said.  (*)

Editor: B Kunto Wibisono
COPYRIGHT © 2012

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