Govt retains Martiono

Govt retains Martiono

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Mines and Energy Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono said on Wednesday the government had no plans to
replace Martiono Hadianto as president of state oil and gas
company Pertamina.

Yudhoyono said at Merdeka Palace after a meeting with
President Abdurrahman Wahid that the President had confidence
Martiono could carry out the task of restructuring and improving
the efficiency of the state company.

There was a speculation over the past week that the President
would appoint a new Pertamina chief.

Yudhoyono also said the government would honor all mining
contracts awarded by the previous governments, but that it would
adjust the contracts to the new Law No 25/1999 on
intergovernmental fiscal balance.

The law, which will take effect in 2001, will give the
provinces larger shares in government revenue from natural
resources. (prb/jsk)