Eight names make shortlist for Pertamina's top job

JAKARTA (JP): The board of commissioners of state oil and gas company Pertamina have selected eight candidates for the state company's top job replacing Martiono Hadianto, a minister said on Wednesday.

Minister of Mines and Energy Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who chairs the board, said the eight names include former president of oil and gas company PT Caltex Pacific Indonesia, a joint venture of American companies Chevron and Texaco, Baihaki Hakim; president of state tin mining company PT Timah, Erry Riyana Hardjapamekas; legislator Hatta Hardjapamekas of the National Mandate Party (PAN), and legislator Arifin Panigoro of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-Perjuangan).

Hatta is an owner of oil drilling company PT Bormindo, while Arifin is an owner of private oil and gas company PT Medco Energy Corp.

The other four nominees are Medco's president John S. Karamoy; director general of oil and gas at the Ministry of Mines and Energy, Rachmat Sudibyo, and president of state gas company PGN A. Qoyum Tjandranegara and former Minister of Finance, Bambang Subianto.

Bambang said the board of commissioners still have an open door for the nomination of other names.

"The door is still open for other names for the next several days before the five members of the board of commissioners hold a plenary meeting (for a final decision)," Bambang told reporters prior to a meeting of economic ministers at the Bina Graha presidential office.

Bambang said the selection of the eight names was based on "direct and indirect" proposals from various parties, including the House of Representatives, and was in line with the criteria set by Abdurrahman.

"We have nothing to hide and there isn't any vague agenda (in the selection of the candidates)," Bambang said.

Abdurrahman, popularly called Gus Dur, has said he wanted new leadership for Pertamina that is honest, capable of transparency in management, and knowledgeable about global oil cartel dynamics.

According to Bambang, Gus Dur did not nominate anyone to the selection process.

He said the board of commissioners would further select the nominees and propose the three best candidates for Gus Dur's final decision.

"We hope the rejuvenation of Pertamina's leadership will be completed next month," Bambang said, adding that Pertamina's current leadership was supportive of the government's planned reshuffle.

Several critics have warned the government not to allow political parties to control the country's largest and most strategic state company.

Bambang said Pertamina's board of commissioners have also discussed measures to improve the performance of Pertamina and to stamp out corruption, collusion and nepotism in the company. (jsk/prb)