Saturday, 11 July 2026
BANDA ACEH | INDATANEWS.COM - Aceh Governor Muzakir Manaf has officially sent a letter to the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, requesting a review of the management of oil and gas resources in the Tangkulo Field within the South Andaman working area. The letter, which was dispatched last week, reflects the Aceh provincial government's position on the development of strategic national energy projects in the region.
The Aceh government confirmed the letter, with spokesperson Dr. Nurlis Effendi stating that the governor's move is part of efforts to safeguard regional interests in the utilization of natural resources. "Governor Muzakir Manaf is proposing what is best for this country, particularly for Aceh. We now await the central government's response," Nurlis said in Banda Aceh on Monday, July 6, 2026.The letter, numbered 500.16.7.2/7039 dated June 25, 2026, requests a review and revision of the approval for Plan of Development (PoD) I for the Tangkulo Field in the South Andaman working area. The document was officially received by the State Secretariat on June 30, 2026.
According to Nurlis, the initiative is a response to a decision made by Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia, who previously approved PoD I. In a letter dated March 9, 2026, addressed to SKK Migas, approval was granted for gas processing using a Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) facility offshore.
Following this decision, the Governor of Aceh ordered a comprehensive evaluation of the development plan for the Tangkulo Field. Aceh Regional Secretary M. Nasir Syamaun led a meeting on Thursday, June 25, 2026, involving government officials, academics, energy experts, and relevant stakeholders. "The results of this meeting form the core of the governor's letter," Nurlis explained.
Nurlis outlined four key points contained in Governor Muzakir Manaf's letter to President Prabowo Subianto.
First, the Aceh government considers the current profit-sharing structure under PoD I-4 percent for gas and 6 percent for oil—to be insufficient and calls for a reassessment to ensure a fairer distribution between national and regional interests.Second, it proposes that gas processing be carried out onshore within the Arun Special Economic Zone (SEZ). The area already has existing infrastructure from the former PT Arun NGL facility and has been designated as a national strategic project under the 2025–2029 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) and the Asta Cita agenda of the Prabowo-Gibran administration.
Third, Governor Muzakir Manaf urges the President to instruct the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to review and revise the approval of PoD I for the Tangkulo Field in the South Andaman area.Fourth, the Aceh government requests a special allocation of oil and gas revenues for Aceh as part of a more equitable distribution of natural resource wealth.
The Tangkulo gas field is estimated to have a production capacity of around 300 MMSCFD. Approximately 160 MMSCFD has already been secured through a Gas Sales Agreement (GSA) with PLN, while the remainder presents significant opportunities for downstream industrial development.
In addition, the field is expected to produce around 7,500 barrels of condensate per day, which can be processed into higher-value products such as naphtha, kerosene, and gasoline. These outputs serve as key raw materials for the petrochemical industry, paint manufacturing, and fuel production."The condensate will become the driving force for refinery development. The real economic impact will emerge when these downstream industries are established and operational," Nurlis said.
The Aceh government expressed hope that, given this vast potential, energy policy optimization will not only serve national interests but also deliver tangible economic benefits for the people of Aceh. (IDNC)REPORTER: Adli Safwan | EDITOR: Fik Sagala
/home/u7391150/public_html/indatanews.com/theme/function.php on line 28