Govt still unclear when to announce new oil contracts

The government still could not say on Monday when to announce winners over the 17 oil contracts tendered at the beginning of 2002.

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro said such announcement could be made only after the vacant position of oil and gas director general had been filled.

Purnomo did not say however when new oil and gas director general would be appointed. The post had remained vacant since a couple of months ago when then oil and gas director general Rachmat Sudibjo was made chairman of BP Migas which holds the highest authority over the country?s upstream oil and gas sector.

?The government had delayed the announcement because efforts have yet to be completed to improve the management of the directorate general,? Purnomo told reporters on Monday.

Indonesia early in 2002 tendered 17 oil blocks but so far no contract has been signed. The 17 blocks are mostly frontier acreage in the country?s eastern provinces. Most contractors want concessions near Java and Sumatra, the country?s population centers.

They are located in Natuna Sea (1), Central and offshore East Kalimantan (3), South Sulawesi (2), Seram, Maluku (2), Arafura Sea offshore Papua (6) and Makassar Straits (3). (godang)