Indosat boss tipped to head Pertamina

The government via Ministry of State Enterprises is rumored to make major reshuffle at state oil and gas company Pertamina?s board of directors on Wednesday, sources said.

The sources, who declined to be identified, said incumbent president Ariffi Nawawi will be replaced by Widya Purnama, currently president director of telecommunication operator Indosat. Widya is known to be a close associate of Taufik Kiemas, President Megawati?s husband.

Mustiko Saleh, currently secretary to Pertamina board of commissioners, will be given the newly created vice-president post.

Downstream directorate, which is currently headed by Harry Poernomo, will be split into refinery directorate and marketing directorate. Suroso, who is currently a division head at downstream directorate will be appointed Director of Refinery, while Ari Sumarno, who is currently president of Pertamina trading arm Petral will be appointed Director of Marketing.

Harry Kustoro, who is currently deputy director, will replace incumbent Bambang Nugroho.

Director of Finance Alfred Rohimone is tipped to retain his post.

Directorate of Business Development and HR, which is currently headed by Eteng Salam, will be eliminated.

Sources said that inauguration will take place at the ministry of state enterprises? office at 11.00 AM Wednesday.

The sources, however, warned that the composition might change in the last minutes. "Nothing is final until they are formally inaugurated. High-level political intervention can take place any time between now and tomorrow," said the sources.(alex/godang/arry)