PERTAMINA, PETROVIETNAM INTEND TO JOINTLY MANAGE OIL BLOCKS IN IRAQ

Jakarta, Aug 14 (ANTARA) - State oil and gas company Pertamina is looking into the possibility of cooperation with PetroVietnam in managing oil and gas blocks in Iraq.

Both Pertamina and PetroVietnam had oil and gas blocks in Iraq, Pertamina President Director Ari Soemarno said following a meeting between Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro and PetroVietnam President Director Tran Ngoc Canh here on Thursday.

"We are looking into the possibility of cooperation with PetroVietnam," Soemarno said.

He said Pertamina was also exploring the possibility of cooperation with PetroVietnam in managing oil and gas fields in Latin America, South Africa and Ecuador.

The two companies had so far cooperated with Petronas in managing tripartite blocks in Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam, he said.

Kardaya Warnika, assistant for information and communication to the energy and mineral resources minister, said PetroVietnam was also eying oil and gas blocks in Indonesia.

"They (PetroVietnam) are eying a number of oil and gas blocks in Indonesia, one of them in East Kalimantan," Kardaya said.