Bob Hasan, Sigit join gas pipeline tender

Businessman Mohamad (Bob) Hasan and former president Soeharto?s son Sigit Hardjojudanto Soeharto have joined together with state gas distributor PT Perusahaan Gas Negara (PGN) to try to win a US$1.2 billion Kalimantan ?Java gas pipeline project, the Investor Daily Indonesia newspaper reported in its Wednesday edition.

Bob and Sigit joined with the PGN through PT Inti Karya persada Teknik and PT Tripatra Engineers & Constructors.

PT Inti Karya belongs to Nusamba Group. Both Bob and Sigit have shares in the Nusamba Group. Other shareholders of this group are Dakap and Dharmais foundations. The oil and gas industry regulating body BPH Migas called for the tenders for the 1,200 km-long pipeline recently. Five consortium ? PGN, PT Barata Indonesia, PT Bakrie & Brothers Tbk, PT Bumi Karsa Lini Nusa and PT Alpha Kharisma.

PGN joined with state electricity company PT PLN, PT Pupuk Sriwijaya (Pusri), PT Inti Karya Persada Teknik (IKPT) and PT Tripatra Engineers & Contractors (TEC). PGN president director WMP Simanjuntak confirmed about the participation of Bob and Sigit in the consortium. Simanjuntak told the Investor Daily that PGN joined with the aboe two companies because they are the best technical engineering companies.

?If PT Pertamina wants to come in, we will still provide place for it,? he said.

Simanjuntak admitted that the PGN already knew that the two companies are owned by Bob and Sigit. The decision was based on pure technicality and both companies are professional companies.

?Both IKPT and TEC have capability in the technical engineering as well as experience in thw construction design,? he said. (*)