Govt urged to delay ASEAN Aceh Fertilizer liquidation

Government should seek gas from other sources outside Aceh to secure gas supply to PT ASEAN Aceh Fertilizer (PT AAF) that may continue to operate following the House of Representatives? decision to delay the government?s plan to liquidate the company, Kompas reported Saturday.

State enterprises ministry?s secretary Said Didu said in Jakarta Friday that the House of Representatives? decision to delay the government?s plan to liquidate PT AAF would force the government to secure gas supply to the company that suffered gas shortage problem.

He said that the government should seek gas from outside Aceh considering that gas supply in Aceh was very limited. ?The government should find a way of ensuring sufficient gas supply, not only for PT AAF but also for state fertilizer firm PT Iskandar Muda (PIM) which is also suffering gas shortage problem,? he said.

The House of Representatives? Commission VI asked the government to delay its plan to liquidate PT AAF on Thursday on the grounds that PT AAF has still legal problems that need to be resolved, including the one related to the Law on Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam Administration.

With the delay in liquidating PT AAF, the government should also provide Rp 4 billion per month to pay the company?s employees. (*)