ExxonMobil sends team to study resumption of gas operations in Aceh
Tuesday, May 1 2001 - 10:30 AM WIB
ExxonMobil Oil Indonesia was currently making technical tests at its gas fields in Lhoksukon, Aceh as part of its preparation to resume the operations of the gas fields, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro said Tuesday.
He said the company need at least one month of preparations to restart its operations.
"To resume its operations, ExxonMobil would need a month (of preparation)," Purnomo said.
The American company suspended its operations in Aceh since March 9 due to mounting threats made by the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM).
The move has caused Indonesia to lose some US$ 100 million a month for its failure to meet natural gas exports to Japan and South Korea. Purnomo the company would have to conduct field tests before restarting operations and assure that all pipes are ready to be operated.
He also said the government had sent a team to help the company make preparations. Julia Tumengkol, ExxonMobil spokesperson confirmed that the company had dispatched a team to Aceh "to monitor the situation and to technically assess the gas facilities conditions".
However, she said the company had yet to decide whether to resume its operations in the troubled province.
"We are committed to quickly resuming operations, but security conditions are not yet conducive," she said. (alex)