BP expands operations in Indonesia

Oil giant BP is tapping further into the Indonesian market after gaining a 100% interest in the North Arafura project in onshore Papua Province.Signed in Jakarta Friday, the oil and gas production share contract gives BP the potential to expand its position in Papura, "an area with huge potential in its people, culture and natural resources", says William Lin, BP's president for Asia Pacific Exploration & Production.The project is located on the coast of the Arafura Sea, 480km southeast of BP's existing Tangguh plant, and covers an area of over 5,000km.The group has had a presence in Indonesia for over 35 years, and is one of the largest foreign investors in the country. Seismic operations on the block are expected to commence "in the near future", the statement says.