Government to accelerate oil, gas development in S. Sulawesi

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Ignasius Jonan said the government will accelerate the development of oil and gas potential in South Sulawesi Province, both onshore and offshore.

?South Sulawesi has lots of oil and gas potentials. We?re pushing for it to be developed as quickly as possible,? he said on the sidelines of a ceremony in Makassar on Friday, as quoted by a ministry statement.

He said that the exploitation of the oil and gas potential must not always be made by state-owned oil and gas firm PT Pertamina, but also private investors. ?There?s been a question whether it should be run by Pertamina. Not really, because Pertamina already have many (projects). This is free, anyone can (invest and develop the potential),? he said.

Jonan pointed out as an example on the Jangkrik field development project run by Italy?s Eni in the Makassar Strait, which has started production.

He said that the government will push for the development of oil and gas potential in other areas in the province including in Karaeng and Jeneponto.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak