Jakarta. Indonesia has discovered 13 oil and gas wells in a transmigration area in Samboja, Kutai Kartanegara Regency, East Kalimantan, in a development officials say could unlock new economic opportunities in the region.

According to Djoko Siswanto, chairman of upstream oil and gas regulator SKK Migas, the newly identified reserves are estimated at around 1 million barrels of oil and 11.64 billion cubic feet of gas.

Djoko said the 13 wells were identified through exploration efforts across 79 existing wells in the area.

Samboja has long been part of Indonesia’s transmigration program, a government initiative aimed at relocating populations from densely populated regions to new areas where they are provided land and opportunities to build livelihoods, primarily through agriculture and plantations.

Transmigration Minister Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanegara said the oil and gas sector could serve as a new source of income for settlers, adding that natural resource potential is likely to attract investment and foster new growth centers.

The presence of hydrocarbon resources is also expected to create employment opportunities and stimulate the development of small businesses in the area.

“We are focused on creating new economic growth centers so that people relocating there can settle, find work, and remain productive,” Iftitah said.

The government is accelerating development of the newly discovered wells, with drilling expected to begin in the near term as part of efforts to optimize transmigration land assets for energy production.

Meanwhile, Sunaryanto, president director of Pertamina Hulu Indonesia, projected the new wells could generate at least Rp 2.5 trillion in revenue, contributing fresh income streams to the national energy sector.