House to deliberate on oil bill in January

The House of Representatives will start deliberation on the oil and gas bill in January next year, a legislator said on Thursday.

Irwan Prayitno, head of the House's Commission VIII, which oversees among others mines and energy affairs, said the House had decided two weeks ago to form a special committee to study the oil and gas bill.

The government delivered oil and gas bill to the House late September this year.

The government proposed an oil bill last year but if failed to gain the approval of the House.

Irwan also said the government planned to introduce a new power law. Former Minister of Mines and Energy Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had submitted the power bill to replace the existing power law, but his successor Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro later withdrew the bill for a revision. (Godang)