179 licenses for upstream operations being processed

The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has processed up to 179 licenses for companies intending to operate in the country's oil and gas downstream operations, Bisnis Indonesia reported on Monday.

Director for processing and commerce at the ministry, Erie Sudamo said in Surabaya at the weekend that 28 of the total licenses had been issued in the form of permanent permits, and the other 62 has been issued in the form of provisional permits.

He said the licenses being processed for fuel trading activities reached about 115, but only 25 of them had been issued including those given to PT Aneka Karya Corporindo and PT Petro Andalas Nusantara.

"The two companies have begun their fuel importing activities," he said, adding that he hoped the increase in the number of companies in the downstream activities would be able to help the government in coping with difficulties in the country's oil distribution.(*)