Indonesia's energy pipeline springs leak as Chevron eyes exit

JAKARTA -- When Chevron and the Indonesian government signed an agreement last month to speed up investment in one of the country's biggest oil blocks, it was good news -- but also a reminder that an uncertain new era for Indonesian energy is almost at hand.

The deal to restart drilling in the Rokan block will unlock a final round of investment by Chevron before it hands over the field -- where it has operated since 1971 -- to national energy company Pertamina next August. And with that a significant chapter will close in the U.S. oil company's 90-year history in Indonesia's oil industry.