Chairul Tanjung. JP

Billionaire Chairul Tanjung began Thursday as the acting energy and mineral resources minister, but confirmed there was little he could do to fix the problems in the country'€™s oil, gas and mineral resources sectors with less than two months before the new government takes over.

Speaking following his first meeting with the ministry'€™s senior officials, Chairul said he planned to concentrate on those things that had to be concluded before the new government assumed power on Oct. 20.

'€œMy aim is to settle pending matters. If they'€™re settled, that would be good. If not, at least we can leave a foundation for the next government,'€ he said.

Chairul was named coordinating economic minister in May, following Hatta Rajasa'€™s resignation from the position to become Prabowo Subianto'€™s running mate for the presidential election on July 9. He has now been appointed acting energy and mineral resources minister on Thursday, replacing Jero Wacik who resigned last week after the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) named him a graft suspect.

Jero'€™s resignation has affected the issuance of new permits and the approval of significant energy and mining projects because they have to be signed off by the minister.

There is a need to accelerate crucial projects, such as the Indonesia Deepwater Development (IDD) gas project, the East Natuna development and Tangguh train 3 expansion, and these are likely to be Chairul'€™s priorities.

Besides stalled oil and gas projects, accelerated efforts will also be performed in the electricity sector as well as the minerals and coal directorate general.

'€œWe are ready to launch at least eight power plant projects, including Nagan Raya, which has already begun operation, and the Sarulla and Patuha geothermal plants, which are due for ground breaking,'€ said Jarman, the director general for electricity, who attended Thursday'€™s meeting with Chairul.

Jarman added that his office was also working to accelerate the development of the Batang coal-fired power plant in Central Java.

In the minerals and coal-mining sector, the latest target is to draft a number of contract of work (COW) amendments.

'€œFor my part, the target is to complete MoUs [memorandums of understanding with all contract holders] this September. Also, some completed MoUs will be taken forward into COW amendments, which will be signed by Pak CT in October, before the current Cabinet leaves office,'€ minerals and coal director general R. Sukhyar said.

Sukhyar added that amendments to at least five mineral and COWs were ready to be signed.

The director of the Jakarta-based Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (Indef), Enny Sri Hartati, said that given the limited time in office, Chairul should prioritize the resolution of key problems, such as the allocation and distribution of subsidized fuel, the quota for which is on the brink of being breached.

'€œThere is no time to develop a new energy policy. So, it would be better to resolve major problems, like securing the supply of subsidized fuel and minimizing faults in its distribution,'€ Enny said.

She added that Chairul should also lay the foundation for developing alternative energy resources, as the new government would face tremendous pressure to cut the consumption of subsidized fuel.

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