Eni has officially commenced gas production from the Merakes East field, located in the Kutei Basin offshore Indonesia, within the East Sepinggan block. Eni operates the block with an 85% interest and expects the new development to contribute up to 100 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD) of natural gas, or approximately 18,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd), to its total output.

Merakes East lies about 10 kilometers east of the main Merakes field and sits at a water depth of around 1,600 meters. The field has been developed using a subsea tie-back system connected to the Jangkrik Floating Production Unit (FPU), which is also operated by Eni and located approximately 50 kilometers from the site. The project reached production roughly two years after the final investment decision, underscoring Eni’s commitment to fast-track development and efficient project execution.

After initial processing aboard the Jangkrik FPU, the gas is transported via existing pipeline infrastructure to support Indonesia’s domestic market and the Bontang liquefaction facility. The Bontang plant supplies liquefied natural gas (LNG) to both local and international markets.

The start-up of Merakes East represents another milestone in Eni’s long-term strategy to unlock the substantial gas potential of the Kutei Basin. It complements other ongoing developments in the area, such as the Maha field and the recently approved plans of development for the Northern Hub and Gendalo-Gandand projects. This new production aligns with Indonesia’s energy goals and results from a strong partnership between Eni and Indonesia’s upstream regulator, SKK Migas.

This collaboration aims to enhance local content, increase gas volumes for domestic use and optimize the utilization of existing processing and export facilities. Eni’s activity in the region also contributes to strengthening the national energy infrastructure while boosting the country’s role in the global LNG market.

Over recent years, Eni has solidified its role as a leading operator in the Kutei Basin and a major player in Indonesia’s gas sector. With future developments, including the Northern Hub and Gendalo-Gandand fields, Eni anticipates reaching production levels of up to 2 billion cubic feet per day (BCFD) of gas and 90,000 barrels per day of condensate.

In addition, Eni recently announced discussions with Malaysia’s PETRONAS to create a joint venture company to manage selected upstream assets in Indonesia and Malaysia. The joint entity would oversee an estimated 3 billion barrels of oil equivalent (boe) in reserves, with an additional 10 billion boe of potential exploration upside. The partnership is expected to generate significant synergies and support both companies’ ambitions to become leading LNG providers in Southeast Asia.

Eni has operated in Indonesia since 2001 and currently maintains a wide-ranging portfolio, including exploration, development and production assets. Presently, its operations in East Kalimantan produce approximately 700 MMSCFD of natural gas.