Digital technologies to be key enabler for Pertamina to grow production, meet Indonesia’s energy needs

PT Pertamina Hulu Energi (PHE), the upstream oil and gas arm of Pertamina, Indonesia’ s state-owned energy company, is working under a government mandate to boost oil and gas production in order to meet the country’s growing energy needs. As Vice President of Drilling & Well Intervention for PHE, Fata Yunus said he’s focused both on finding ways to optimize production from existing fields, by bringing new technologies into the country, and on exploring for new resources. The company is on target to drill approximately 1,000 wells per year, he said, deploying approximately 70 drilling rigs and 150 well intervention rigs over 50 fields. Speaking with DC from the 2026 SPE/IADC Asia Pacific Drilling Technology Conference in Bali, Indonesia, on 6 August, Mr Yunus pointed to the implementation of advanced digital and automation technologies as a priority. However, any new technology must prove added value – and gain user trust – before the company will be willing to use them at scale.