OIL, in the midst of an aging earth, is becoming ever more costly. Not surprisingly, Pertamina is eager to double its fossil-fuel reserves. Scores of gas and oil fields—until now in the hands of foreign companies—are being sought. One way of getting them will be through acquisition or takeover of productive oil wells.

Pertamina is showing signs of aggressiveness in pursuing this goal. Last year, Inpex Java Ltd, a Japanese oil company which o