Aceh presses for disbursement of oil, gas revenues

The Aceh provincial administration on Friday asked President Megawati Sukarnoputri to soon start disbursing an estimated Rp 4-5 trillion which is part of the revenues to be raised this year from the sales of oil and gas extracted from area fields.

The 4-5 trillion accounts for 70 percent of the government?s total oil and gas revenues from Aceh this year, Aceh governor Abdullah Puteh told reporters after meeting with the President at the State Palace.

Puteh said however the amount was based on rough calculations as it depends on this year?s actual production of oil and gas in the troubled province.

According to the Aceh special autonomy law which was put into effect last year, the province is entitled to 70 percent of the government?s revenues from the sales of oil and gas extracted from its wells. The remaining balance goes to the central government.

?The President accepted our proposals,? Puteh said.

He said the oil and gas fund to be received by Aceh would be put into the province?s 2002 budget which will soon be deliberated by the provincial government and the provincial house of representatives.

Aceh and Papua, another oil and gas rich province, are the only regions obtaining special autonomy packages. The Papua special autonomy law, which took effect on Jan. 1, 2002, also stipulates that the region is entitled to 70 percent of the government?s revenues from the sales of oil and gas derived from area wells. (leo)