Pertamina downplays threat by regents<\/p>\n
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
State oil and gas firm Pertamina believes that regional
\nleaders will remain committed to protecting oil and gas
\noperations in their respective areas despite their
\ndissatisfaction over the new oil and gas law.<\/p>\n
Pertamina's director of production-sharing management Effendi
\nSitumorang said the regional leaders would do their best to
\nprevent oil and gas investment in their respective areas being
\ninterrupted because any security problems would not only hurt
\ninvestment but also damage their regions' reputations among
\ninvestors.<\/p>\n
Effendi was commenting on the threat voiced by the
\nConsultative Forum of Oil Producing Regencies that the forum's
\nmembers would not protect oil and gas investments in their
\nrespective areas unless the government and the House of
\nRepresentatives accommodated their wishes in the deliberation of
\nthe new oil and gas law.<\/p>\n
The forum has demanded that the new law have a clause
\nrequiring the formation of a special agency, to be called the
\nNational Oil and Gas Coordinating Board, that would determine all
\nmajor oil and gas policies. The forum also demanded that it have
\nrepresentation on the forum.<\/p>\n
However, the House and the government have rejected the
\nproposal, saying it came too late when the debate on the oil and
\ngas bill had already been completed.<\/p>\n
The House is planning to pass the bill into law on Oct. 24 at
\na plenary session.<\/p>\n
Effendi said he believed the forum's members would not cause
\ntrouble for the oil and gas companies in their respective areas
\nfollowing the rejection of their proposal.<\/p>\n
\"They wouldn't dare to sabotage oil and gas facilities. It's
\nwrong and emotional,\" he told reporters after a press briefing on
\nthe evaluation of production sharing contracts.<\/p>\n
Effendi also said that soon after the passing of the bill into
\nlaw, the government would stage an information campaign to raise
\nthe public's awareness of the new oil and gas law so that people
\nin the regions would be committed to protecting oil and gas
\ninvestments in their respective areas.<\/p>",
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