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ov. 22, p. 1

Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Jero Wacik has urged the 270 oil and gas contractors operating in the country to fulfill their investment commitments, otherwise the government will terminate their contracts.

“Each year, every contractor will have to submit a work plan and budget [WP and B] to [upstream oil and gas regulator] BPMigas. I expect BPMigas to supervise very closely whether they fulfill their commitments or not. If they fail to perform, we’ll terminate the contracts,” he said on Monday.

He said that he understood the companies’ need to make the highest possible profits. However he reminded them that the government’s interests had to be prioritized. “I also hope that those companies pay attention to residents living near their operation areas.”

Your comments:

I quote from the article: “Indonesia’s oil output has declined steadily over the past seven years due to a lack of investment in new projects and to production expansion in existing oil fields”.

I wonder if that has anything to do with the “my way or the highway” attitude of ministers like Jero Wacik?

K. Highlander

Jero Wacik is the first guy who has the guts to remind oil companies operating in Indonesia to fulfill their investment commitments, otherwise the government will terminate their contracts.

I am very sure that Jero is confident that his men in the company have to be “cleaned” and scrutinized in order to facilitate the oil companies to fulfill their investment commitments which are logically to their economic/business advantage.

It looks like that Jero is one guy who is not only willing, but also daring to solve his country’s chronic problem.

It looks like SBY knows to select the right man for the right place in this very case.

Moeljono Adikoesoemo
Jakarta