JAKARTA, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesian government expects oil lifting, post-sale production, to increase next year, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia said in a statement on Friday.
The government has set a target of 610,000 barrels per day (bpd) for oil lifting in 2026, slightly higher than this year's target of 605,000 bpd. Bahlil noted that current production has already reached 608,000 bpd, surpassing the 2025 target.
According to the ministry's spokesperson Dwi Anggia, oil lifting could potentially exceed 700,000 bpd in the near future, thanks to additional output from wells drilled by local communities. Around 30,000 wells have been authorized for community drilling, with production required to be sold to state-owned oil and gas company PT Pertamina.
The government has also projected that 15 oil and gas blocks will commence production this year. These initiatives form part of Indonesia's broader efforts to boost domestic oil and gas output to meet rising energy demand and curb dependence on imports. ■
