Rudi Rubiandini rumored to be new deputy energy minister

Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) energy expert Rudi Rubiandini will likely be appointed as the new deputy energy and mineral resources minister replacing the late Widjajono Partowidagdo, who passed away on April 21.

Rudi, who currently serves as the operational deputy of the country’s upstream oil and gas authority BPMigas, confirmed the rumor on Tuesday, but added that he was still waiting for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to set the record straight.

“I am still waiting for the confirmation from the President,” he said Tuesday as quoted by tempo.co.

Widjajono, a former ITB professor, died of a heart attack while climbing Mount Tambora in West Nusa Tenggara on April 21. Yudhoyono has yet to appoint a new deputy energy minister.

Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Jero Wacik, a Democratic Party politician, refused to confirm whether Rudi Rubiandini would be appointed.

“Please be patient and wait for our President to deliver his statement,” he said. (asa/mtq)