the country's gas-use planners have stuffed up in a monumental way. the government is in the middle of trying to shift the poor from using kerosene to gas, and yet there are still not enough gas cylinders and they aer still stuffing about with the tender to make them. the planned shift from liquid fuel to gas for all public vehicles in jakarta -- including the busway -- is hitting snags because of grossly inadequate gas supplies.

Methinks Fahmi Idris hasn't got a clue about his business. Even if they found the gas today it would take years to pipline it to where it is currently required. Also, I think that gas producers would much prefer the export price rather than what they would get if they sold to the government!

JAKARTA - Indonesia's Bumi Resources and India's Tata Power are closing in on a US$1.3 billion deal that promises to give the Indian energy concern a 30% stake in two big Indonesian coal mines, Kaltim Prima Coal (KPC) and Arutmin. If completed, the blockbuster sale would represent the second-largest corporate deal ever in Indonesia.

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The Department of Trade asked the Directorate General of Customs and Excise to inform them specifically of the criteria of permission to block importers. In addition, should the block be carried out all at once by the Directorate General without a confirmation from the Department of Trade, it is concerned that it will hamper the business of importers who obey the rules.

The central bank is currently drafting a regulation to restrict the employment of expatriate labor in the banking sector amid recent concerns in some circles about perceived foreign domination of the country's banking industry.

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The government should step up gas exploration activity in the country to cover a shortage in natural gas supply to domestic industries, Industry Minister Fahmi Idris said here Friday. Speaking to the press on the sidelines of a state enterprises coordination meeting, Fahmi said a number of industries were currently suffering from a shortage of natural gas supply. Among them were the glove, ceramic, electric bulb and fertilizer industries.

Boyolali (ANTARA News) - Rainfall in Central Java that had been declining in the past month had boosted Boyolali district`s furniture exports, as the drying of wood for the production of furniture had become faster. The statement was made by Manager of CV Art Funiture in Ketitang village, Nogosari subdistrict, Boyolali district, H. Arif Budi Sulistiyo. "Now we managed to export one and a half container of furniture each week, while the capacity reached only one container previously.

Friday 13th April, 2007 (IANS) Sulur is 50 years old, delicately built, but strong as a bear. With high swings, the Indonesian slams his axe into the stem of an oil-palm fruit bunch two, three, four times. Then the bunch of black-orange, berry-like fruits falls to the ground. He picks up the 10-kg bundle and carries it about 50 metres to a nearby road. Sulur wipes sweat off his forehead before examining the next oil palm, number 88 of the day.