Jakarta, May 4 -- The Transmigration Ministry and upstream oil and gas regulator SKK Migas have signed an agreement on the development of 13 potential new oil and gas wells in the Samboja transmigration area, East Kalimantan.

"We will contribute to energy self sufficiency to meet oil needs," Transmigration Minister M Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanagara stated at a joint press conference in Jakarta on Monday.

The statement followed a recent discovery by SKK Migas regarding 13 potential new wells in the Samboja area with reserves of 0.96 million barrels.

The new wells will be managed by PT Pertamina Hulu Sanga Sanga in addition to the 79 existing wells already operating in the area.

To start the drilling process the ministry and SKK Migas have...