ExxonMobil told to resume operation in June

State oil and gas company Pertamina has asked ExxonMobil Oil Indonesia Inc. to resume is the operation of its gas fields and its liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant in the restive Aceh province at the end of this month or by early June, Bisnis Indonesia daily reported on Saturday (May 12).

Pertamina president Baihaki Hakim said security situation in North Aceh, where Mobil's gas fields and Arun LNG plant are located, had been improving significantly.

"Overall, there is an improved security situation, meaning that the tension has been subsided down significantly. This is the main reason for us to demand ExxonMobil to resume its operation quickly," he said in Jakarta on Friday.

"Our target, and also their target, is the end of this May, or say early June, ExxonMobil must already resume its operation," he added.

Baihaki expressed his optimism about the future of Aceh, noting that political settlement over the Aceh problem had also been pursued by the House of Representatives. The House is currently deliberating the Nangroe Aceh bill that will give wide-ranging autonomy to the Acehnese.

"So, I'm optimistic because all parties have strong commitment (to solving the Aceh problems). Without this simultaneous political settlement, of course, security problems in Aceh will drag on," he added.

He acknowledged that thus far, there was no single entity in Indonesia that could give firm security guarantee for Aceh. But at least, a number of parameters show that there are improvements. This is enough for Pertamina to demand the resumption of ExxonMobil's operation in Aceh. (*)