RI, Australia to conduct surveys

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia and Australia agreed yesterday to cooperate in energy, mineral and hydrocarbon deposit surveys in the eastern provinces of Indonesia, Director General of Oil and Gas Suyitno Patmosukismo said.

He told reporters after the opening of a two-day senior official meeting between the two countries here that the agreement will be followed by cooperation between state oil company Pertamina and the Australian Geological Survey Association.

"Indonesia will provide the ship, while Australia will provide the experts," said Suyitno, who chaired the Indonesian delegation at the meeting.

Yesterday's meeting discussed energy policies in the two countries and in the Asia-Pacific region, he said.

Australia also shared its experiences on the development of the gas industry, on which Indonesia based a study on its plan to introduce a regulation on the utilization of gas for households as well as industrial and commercial purposes.

"We hope we can introduce such a regulation next year," he said.

He added that Indonesia and Australia will cooperate in geological mapping and ocean research in the eastern provinces and the airborne survey of Kalimantan and Sulawesi.(04)