House to submit names for top posts at oil, gas downstream body after Feb. 18

The House of Representatives (DPR) will submit to President Megawati Sukarnoputri after February 18 the names of nine people it had approved for taking the top posts at the newly formed downstream oil and gas regulatory body, Suara Pembaruan daily reported Monday.

DPR will hold a plenary session on February 18 to formalize the decision on the nine people which had been made by DPR?s special team, the paper quoted as saying Irwan Prayitno, chairman of DPR?s commission VIII in charge of energy and mineral resources, environment, and science and technology.

The nine were among the 18 people examined by the House team on January 28-30.

Among the nine people were House member Tubagus Haryono who is tipped to be given the chairman post of the regulatory body. Others included Agus Budi Hartono, a senior executive of PT Elnusa Petrofin, a unit of state oil and gas firm Pertamina; and TA Nur Winakun, spokesman and head of the legal affairs section of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.

The body, formed based on the current oil and gas law, is tasked with managing oil products and their distribution along with gas pipeline transportation. (*)