Jakarta. Total SA's Indonesian unit expects oil production from East Kalimantan to rise to 94,000 barrels a day from 92,960 barrels a day this year, R Priyono, head of Indonesia's oil and gas regulator BPMigas, said.

Sanaa. A number of petroleum companies closed down earlier this week after receiving direct Al-Qaeda threats, independent sources reported.

Abu Dhabi. The Kuwait Oil Tanker Company (KOTC) intends to sign a Kuwaiti Dinar 45.5 million (USD 189 million) contract for the design and construction of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant north of the country, it was announced here on Monday.

Singapur. Singaporean outfit Keppel Offshore & Marine's US offshoot Keppel AmFELS is on track to deliver the second of four EXL rigs to Rowan Drilling this week. The rig, christened Rowan EXL-II last Friday, is scheduled for delivery tomorrow and will depart the Keppel AmFELS yard within the next month, the company said today. It is expected to be deployed to Trinidad for three years under contract with BP.

Abu Dhabi. A joint venture between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait plans to build gas and natural gas liquids collection and distribution facilities at the Khafji oilfield, according to reports. Khafji, which is in the Neutral Zone between the two countries, has oil capacity of around 610,000 barrels per day.

Bangalore. By the end of the 11th Five-Year Plan (2007-12), India's state-controlled energy utility, Power Grid Corporation Limited (BSE:532898) (PGCIL) (New Delhi), will invest about $11.5 billion to strengthen its transmission network and augment the capacity of grids. Confirming the decision, Sushil Kumar Shinde, India's Minister of Power, indicated that PGCIL, which manages one of the strongest-performing transmission networks in the world, has succeeded in maintaining grid capacity at 99% availability.

Moscow. The National Iranian Petrochemical Company (NIPC) and a Chinese consortium are about to finalize a deal whereby China will invest some $1 billion in petrochemical projects in Iran, the Mehr news agency reported on Saturday.

Astana. Kazakhstan may exceed its oil output target this year on the back of higher oil production from a Chevron-led venture, the head of Kazakh state company said today.

"I think oil production in Kazakhstan may exceed 80 million tonnes (1.6 million barrels per day) this year and reach 82 million to 83 million, mainly thanks to TengizChevroil," said Kairgeldy Kabyldin, chief of KazMunaiGas.