Government replaces Pertamina directors

Government replaces Pertamina directors

JAKARTA (JP): The government has reshuffled the top management
of state oil and gas company Pertamina in preparation of an
expansion into the international market.

"This is a common job rotation, which is aimed at improving
the teamwork and refreshing Pertamina," Minister of Energy and
Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro said on Monday following
the ceremony to install the new directors of the state company.

"Besides, this (reshuffle) also aims at developing Pertamina's
upstream and downstream activities and international alliances in
the upstream and downstream sectors," Purnomo added.

The reshuffle, which is based on a presidential decree dated
July 2 and signed by President Abdurrahman Wahid, is the second
reshuffle in the company since last January.

Gatot K. Wiroyudo and Ariffi Nawawi, two career Pertamina
executives, lost their jobs as upstream and downstream directors,
respectively.

Gatot was replaced by former director of production sharing
management Iin Arifin Takhyan, while Ariffi was replaced by
Muchsin Bahar, who was the head of marketing and commercial
affairs in Ariffi's office.

Iin position will be filled by Effendi Situmorang, who was
director of development. Effendi was replaced by a newcomer to
Pertamina, Bardi Machraman, who was a lecturer on oil at the
University of Gadjahmada in Yogyakarta.

Baihaki Hakim, former president of American oil and gas
company PT Caltex Pacific Indonesia, who was appointed as
Pertamina's president earlier this year, maintained his position
at the helm of the company.

Also retaining his post was finance director Ainun Naim.

Purnomo said Gatot would handle Pertamina's international
exploration and production activities as part of the company's
efforts to become a world-class firm.

He added that Arifi would develop downstream activities in
relation to petrochemical projects. (05)