Pertamina aims to buy oil stakes from Inpex-sources

JAKARTA, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Indonesia's state energy firm Pertamina may buy some of Inpex's (1605.T) oil and gas assets in the country to boost its production, a source at Pertamina said on Friday.

Another source at the country's energy watchdog BPMIGAS confirmed that Pertamina and Inpex are in talks over Indonesian assets.

Pertamina has previously indicated it wants to expand its upstream activities to boost oil and gas production, and that it was looking at several potential oil and gas fields.

"Actually Pertamina and Inpex have already reached an agreement, but they need to talk further on price," the Pertamina source said.

He said Pertamina was looking to buy a 7.25 percent stake from Inpex in the Offshore North West Java (ONWJ) block and a 13 percent stake in its offshore South East Sumatra block.

Pertamina already has a 46 percent stake in the ONWJ block.

Both the ONWJ and South East Sumatra blocks are currently producing gas and crude oil. Other major shareholders in ONWJ include China's CNOOC (0883.HK) with 36.72 percent.

Ownership and control of energy and mineral resources in Indonesia is politically sensitive, particularly when it involves foreign companies, and some politicians frequently make nationalistic noises on the issue. (Reporting by Muklis Ali; Editing by Neil Chatterjee)