Indonesia treading water
The government wants higher oil production. The prospects are dim
Desperate to boost production for an energy-starved nation of 264m people but faced with a yawning capital expenditure gap, Indonesia is hoping that reluctant foreign investors will buy into 14 unexplored mainly offshore oil and gas blocks under a raft of financial incentives unveiled in April. In a belated recognition that Southeast Asia's biggest economy cannot fund its future energy needs, Indonesia will offer tax-free imports of drilling equipment and other upstream technology as well as revised "gross split" contracts that, the government argues, should help operators recover costs sooner. But foreign operators have been slow to show up at the party, citing excessive red tape, politicki

Also in this section
3 April 2025
Gas use in India has seen significant growth over the past year and looks set to accelerate further, even if the government’s 2030 goal remains a stretch
3 April 2025
IOCs and Western lenders are reluctant to commit to new oil and gas projects in African frontier countries
2 April 2025
The often-hidden yet powerful hand maintains supply chain linkages and global flows amid disruptions
2 April 2025
At some point it is likely that $70/bl will be quietly accepted as the producer-consumer sweet spot for a US administration having to balance both sides of the ledger