Indonesia to request Japan to soon disburse loans for energy projects

The Indonesian government has planned to request Japan to soon disburse its special assistance funds it had pledged for the country?s energy projects, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said on Friday.

Purnomo told Petromindo.com the request for the assistance funds had mostly come from the Indonesian private sector and would be used for a number of projects including the Tanjung Jati B electricity project in Jepara, the Tuban petrochemical project and the gas pipelining from South Sumatra to West Java.

The Indonesian government will submit that proposal to Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi who will arrive in Jakarta on Saturday for a two-day visit, according to Purnomo.

?Actually the application for the funds had not come from the government, but we are hoping that Japan would be willing to help because the projects are important for our nation. They would greatly contribute to our economic recovery,? Purnomo said. (godang)