Governor criticized for lack of progress in CPP talks

Riau governor Saleh Djasit has been widely criticized for his lack of concept in handling the provincial administration's plan to take over and operate the Coastal Plain Pekanbaru (CPP) oil block, Republika reported on Friday.

The newspaper said some provincial legislators had lost their patience due to the lack of progress the governor made in his negotiations with the central government in determining the future of the oil block.

"The governor's concept regarding the future of the CPP is not clear. It is getting worse because he also lacks qualified staff to help him outline the programs needed to operate the oil block," Thamrin Nasution of the Golkar faction at the provincial legislative council.

The local legislators also criticized the one-man show management adopted by the governor in handling the economic policy of the province. "The governor has never consulted with legislators about his economic program especially that related to the CPP oil block," he said.

The Riau province has been given until August to submit its proposal to take over the CPP oil block from the current operator Caltex Pacific Indonesia when its contract ended in August next year. The governor submitted the proposal to the Ministry of Mines and Energy early this month but the most important things such as the funding for the future operation of the oil block and its potential partners in operating the oil block had yet to be included.

The province has demanded to select its own partners in operating instead of forging an alliance either with state oil and gas company Pertamina or PT Caltex Pacific Indonesia. But it seems to have faced difficulties to find the right partners of his choices. (*)