Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has asked state oil company PT Pertamina to be ready to exploit natural gas reserves in the Block D Alpha Natuna area in Riau Islands province.<\/p>\n
Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said here Tuesday Pertamina was given three weeks` time to state its readiness to the president.<\/p>\n
\"The president asked Pertamina to be ready after two years of negotiations with Exxonmobil (on operating the block) have failed to yield an agreement,\" Purnomo told the press after attending a limited cabinet meeting.<\/p>\n
He said there had been eight major issues on which the government and Exxonmobil could not arrive at an agreement with three of them relating to the law.<\/p>\n
\"When we have to abide by the law, we cannot do otherwise,\" the minister said, adding that taxation matters, the contract period, provision of a governmental guarantee and production-sharing were among the eight issues over which the talks had deadlocked.<\/p>\n
\"The government will soon send a letter to Exxonmobil in relation with the decision that it is difficult to find a way out of the eight pending issues,\" he added.<\/p>\n
If Pertamina finally agreed to manage the exploitation of natural gas in the Block D-Alpha Natuna area in Riau Islands, it would be operating the largest natural gas production site in the world with an investment of more than US$30 billion.(*)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/president-asks-pertamina-to-operate-natuna-oil-block-1203416464", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }