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Natuna, Anambas blessed with abundant resources
Sitting at the south end of the South China Sea, resource-rich Natuna and Anambas Islands regencies are valuable assets for Indonesia
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itting at the south end of the South China Sea, resource-rich Natuna and Anambas Islands regencies are valuable assets for Indonesia.
Vice President Boediono said last year that Indonesia's extraordinary natural marine resources could yield Rp 3 quadrillion (US$253 billion) per year.
But the country has yet to tap into much of its vast underwater wealth, including in Natuna and Anambas.
According to Natuna administration data, the regency's fisheries sector could potentially produce 1.24 million tons of fish per year but last year netted only 0.15 percent of that, or around 1.28 tons.
Similarly, the waters around Anambas Islands right now only yield 1.1 tons of fish per year.
Of the catch in the area, the Napoleon fish is the priciest.
A kilogram of Napoleon fish sells for at least Rp 500,000 due to increasing demand from foreign buyers, mostly in Singapore and Hong Kong.
The Napoleon fish, however, is listed as an endangered species.
Local fishermen also farm-raise fish, such as tuna, and undersea invertebrates like lobster.
In addition to abundant marine life and fisheries potential, Natuna and Anambas Islands regencies contain crude oil and natural gas reserves.
The Natuna Gas Field was discovered in 1970 with total proven reserves of around 46 trillion cubic feet, making it the biggest gas field in Asia.
State-owned oil and gas company PT Pertamina developed and began production on the field since 1999.
Pertamina and several other companies have now joined together in a business consortium and are seeking to develop the East Natuna field, expecting to begin production in 2020 with peak production estimated to hit 4,000 standard cubic feet per day of gas.
The field is expected to produce for at least 20 years before starting to decline.
Other than Pertamina, the consortium includes ExxonMobil, France's Total SA and Thailand's PTT Exploration and Production (PTTEP).
Pertamina currently holds a 35-percent participating interest in the consortium, while Exxon Mobil holds a 35 percent interest and Total SA and PTTEP each own 15 percent.
Other companies that are currently operating in the area include ConocoPhillips, Premier Oil Indonesia and Star Energy.
- Margareth Aritonang and Wendra Ajistyatama
