Faisal Basri leads oil, gas reform committee

The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR) has set up the Oil and Gas Reform Committee, and named outspoken University Indonesia economist Faisal Basri as its Chairman.

MEMR said in a press statement obtained Monday that the committee has four main tasks with the aim of resolving governance problems including helping to eradicate mafia-like practices in the country?s oil and gas sector.

The statement said that the committee?s first main task is to review all policies and regulations related to oil and gas governance from upstream to downstream, which has given room to so-called ?oil and gas mafia? to operate easily.

Second is to revamp existing institutions including cutting down inefficient bureaucracy chain.

Third is to accelerate the revision of the oil and gas law, and fourth to help promote oil and gas investment climate which is free from rent seekers.

Sudirman Said was quoted by the press as saying Monday that the committee was expected to provide recommendations to the government within six months.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak