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)