Below is a list with tagged columns and company profiles.

Today's Headlines Oil & Gas

  • After Oil Will Indonesia Become a Net Importer of Gas Too?

    Earlier this month the Indonesian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources said that Indonesia will require an additional 3,100 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) of gas supplies in the next five years to meet domestic gas demand for the country’s power stations and fertilizer plants. About 1,100 mmscfd of gas is needed for Indonesia’s plan to establish 13,400 MW of gas-fired power stations by 2020. A further 2,000 mmscfd is needed to fuel fertilizer plants in Southeast Asia’s largest economy.

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  • Indonesia Posts a $738 Million Trade Surplus in February 2015

    Statistics Indonesia (BPS) announced on Monday (16/03) that Indonesia posted a USD $738.3 million trade surplus in February 2015, the country’s third consecutive monthly trade surplus, and higher than the forecast of Indonesia’s central bank (Bank Indonesia) and a Reuters poll which both estimated a surplus in the range of USD $500 and $520 million. The surplus was also larger than the USD $709.4 million trade surplus posted in the first month of 2015. The February surplus was particularly the result of declining imports.

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  • Trade Balance Indonesia Update: BI Expects $500 Million February Surplus

    The central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia) expects that the country’s trade balance will show a USD $500 million surplus in February 2015 on the back of increased manufacturing exports, the higher price of crude palm oil, and lower oil imports. In January, Indonesia’s trade balance recorded a USD $710 million surplus, divided into a USD $748 million surplus in the non-oil & gas trade balance and a USD $38.6 million deficit in the oil & gas trade balance.

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  • Indonesia’s Foreign Exchange Reserves Rose in February 2015

    The central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia) announced on Friday (06/03) that the country’s official foreign exchange reserves stood at USD $115.5 billion at end-February 2015, up from USD $114.2 billion in the preceding month. The growth was primarily the consequence of improved oil & gas export revenues, and which exceed payments of the government’s external debts. The news caused positive sentiments on Indonesia’s markets and contributed to the record high closing of Jakarta Composite Index on Friday.

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  • Trade Balance Indonesia: Import and Export Fall in January 2015

    Indonesia posted a USD $709.4 million trade surplus in January 2015 according to the latest data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS) released on Monday (16/02). Although the surplus is higher than expected and thus has a positive impact on the country’s trade and current account balances, the data also indicated that exports fell 8.09 percent year-on-year (y/y) to USD $13.30 billion signalling continued weakening global demand for Indonesian exports. Meanwhile, Indonesian imports shrank by 15.6 percent (y/y) to USD $12.59 billion.

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  • Macroeconomy Indonesia: Inflation, Trade Balance and Manufacturing

    Indonesia’s inflation eased significantly in January 2015 to 6.96 percent year-on-year (y/y) from 8.36 percent (y/y) in December 2014 as the government’s January fuel price cut translated into lower transportation costs across Southeast Asia’s largest economy. In January, the Joko Widodo administration cut fuel subsidy spending and moved a step closer to a full market-based price mechanism for low-octane gasoline and diesel. As a result - amid low global oil prices - prices of diesel and gasoline fell by an average of 14 percent.

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  • Investing in Indonesia: BKPM’s New One-Stop Service and a Tax Cut

    The Indonesia Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) conducted a trial of its new one-stop integrated service on Thursday (15/01). This soft launch was attended by various Indonesian ministers. The introduction of the one-stop service aims to attract more (foreign) investment as it speeds up licensing procedures. Currently, Indonesia is characterized by a high degree of bureaucracy resulting in a lengthy licensing process as investors need to obtain permits from various ministries as well as local government institutions.

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  • Moody’s & JP Morgan Positive about Indonesia’s Fuel Price Hike

    International credit rating agency Moody's Investors Service is positive about the subsidized fuel price hike that was conducted by the government of Indonesia on Monday (17/11) as it shows commitment of the government to implement reforms that support the strengthening of the economy, such as curbing Indonesia’s fiscal and current account deficits. Moody’s estimates that these developments are positive for the country’s sovereign rating (now at Baa3/stable) as well as for state-owned energy firm Pertamina (Baa3/stable).

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  • Government of Indonesia Will Soon Decide on Mahakam Oil & Gas Block

    The government of Indonesia will soon decide on the future of the Mahakam oil and gas block in East Kalimantan. The existing contracts to operate the block will expire in 2017 and therefore the government needs to make a decision about the future operator(s). The current operators of the Mahakam block are Total E&P Indonesia (subsidiary of France-based oil and gas giant Total S.A.) and Japanese oil company Inpex Corporation. Both companies have a 50 percent stake in the Mahakam block.

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  • Indonesia’s Foreign Exchange Assets Rise to $112 Billion in October

    The central bank of Indonesia announced on Friday (07/11) that the country’s foreign exchange reserves grew slightly in October 2014. At the end of the month, the reserves stood at USD $112 billion (from USD $111.2 billion at the end of the previous month). The central bank said that these reserves increased mainly on government export receipts in the oil & gas sector, as well as growth of banks’ foreign currency deposits at Bank Indonesia. This growth exceeded government external debt payments.

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Latest Columns Oil & Gas

  • Indonesian Government Prepares Seven Incentives to Spur Investments

    The government of Indonesia is busy preparing seven tax incentives to boost investment flows in 2014. Investments currently account for approximately 32 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP). Only domestic consumption owns a larger stake towards the economy with 55 percent. The regulatory framework related to the seven incentives is expected to be finalized by the end of this year. The incentives consist of five new ones and the relaxation of two older incentives, namely the tax holiday and tax allowance.

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  • Indonesia's Trade Balance Reports Another Trade Deficit in April

    Indonesia's trade balance recorded another deficit in April 2013 as imports (USD $16.31 billion) exceeded exports (USD $14.70 billion). April's trade deficit, amounting to USD $1.62 billion, was mainly due to continued weak commodity exports in combination with strong oil, basic machinery and utensils imports. After five consecutive months of deficits up to February, Indonesia’s trade account reported a surplus of USD $330 million in March, but fell back into deficit in April. From January to April, Indonesia's trade deficit stands at USD $1.85 billion.

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  • Fiscal Incentives to Stimulate Investments in Indonesia's Oil and Gas Exploration

    The Indonesian government - through its Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry - has stated to provide fiscal incentives to encourage oil and gas exploration in Indonesia. Indonesia, a former OPEC member, has recorded a declining oil production since the 1990s due to a lack of exploration and investments in this sector. To reverse this situation, the government will provide a number of tax exemptions.

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  • No Pain, No Gain; Will Indonesia's Oil Production Be Back on Track?

    This year, Indonesia will have to face declining production numbers in its oil and gas sector. Gas output is assumed to decline by 14.77 percent compared to last year, while oil output will reach similar levels as in 2012, provided that there are no disruptions due to bad weather and leakages (a prerequisite that will be hard to meet).

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