Pekanbaru, Riau, Sept. 14 -- Riau Governor Abdul Wahid on Saturday welcomed Pertamina's discovery of 724 million barrels of oil equivalent (BOE) in unconventional oil and gas reserves in the Rokan block, calling it a potential economic boost for the province.

"Yes, I've heard. This is unconventional drilling. Hopefully, it brings blessings to Riau," Wahid told reporters in Pekanbaru.

The discovery was announced earlier this week by the state-owned energy holding company's president director, Simon Aloysius Mantiri, during a parliamentary hearing with the House of Representatives (DPR's) Commission VI in Jakarta.

Mantiri described the discovery as one of Pertamina's key operational milestones in the Rokan working area.

The reserves wer...