Balikpapan?s oil, gas exports rise to $547.1 million in 2002

Oil and gas exports of the city of Balikpapan in East Kalimantan totaled US$547.1 million in 2002, or 68.13 percent of its total exports in the same year, Bisnis Indonesia daily reported Monday.

The significant contribution from the oil and gas sector was due to the fact that Balikpapan was oil and gas processing center for oil and gas companies operating in the province, said Asranuddinsyah, head of the city administration office for industry, trade and cooperatives.

Asranuddinsyah said Balikpapan?s oil and gas exports amounted to $335.63 million in 2001, compared with $347.33 million in non-oil and gas exports in the same year.

?Unfortunately, our share of the oil and gas export revenues is not included in local revenues. This is because they have to go to the state coffer first under existing law on proportional division of revenues between the central government and provincial administrations,? the official said.

The law stipulates that provincial administration receive 15 percent of the government?s share of oil and gas sales, while the remaining 85 percent go to the central government. (*)