Devon Energy?s funds for road construction questioned

The decision of the Jambi provincial government to receive oil company Devon Energy's funds of about Rp 6 billion to construct a 12-kilometer road has been questioned by non-governmental organizations in the province, Sriwijaya Post reported on Monday.

Azwar Jaya, the chairman for the advisory agency for environment and community, said in Palembang over the weekend that the disbursement of the fund from the oil company was not transparent and it therefore could be abused.

He said that the local government had earlier refused to receive the funds because Santa Fe had tied up the contribution to a number of unacceptable requirements. The agency also demanded the government to be transparent in the bidding process for the appointment of a contractor to build the road.

Meanwhile Jambi governor Zulkifli Nurdin confirmed the disbursement of the Rp 6 billion funds. ?In the current situation, we still need the fund,? he said. (*)