Jambi council asks governor to reprimand Santa Fe
Monday, October 23 2000 - 04:00 AM WIB
The provincial council of Jambi asked the province's governor to reprimand American oil and gas company Santa Fe for failing to consult with the local authorities on the construction of its pipeline and road in the Tanjung Jabung regency, local daily Sriwijaya Post reported.
Head of the council's special team Zainuddin ZA said on Saturday, after a meeting with governor Zulkifli Nurdin, that Santa Fe had to consult with the provincial and regency administrations on the construction of both facilities despite the fact it had secured permission from the central government for the construction of the facilities.
Zainuddin described Santa Fe as arrogant, the paper said.
Head of the council's commission D Iskandar Rais also considered the company as arrogant, calling on the provincial administration and council to be tough in dealing with the company. Otherwise, the company would continue showing its arrogance, he said.
He criticized Santa Fe for refusing to give the provincial administration all the Rp 6.1 billion (US$=Rp 8,885) fund the company had allocated for the construction of the 11.6 kilometer road linking Simpanglagan and Muarasabak.
The paper earlier said Santa Fe planned to build the road to help the local people but in a recent meeting with the council, the company insisted that it would only disburse the money gradually depending on the progress of the construction of the road.
Iskandar said the condition set by the company for the disbursement of the financing was unacceptable.
"If it wants to help, just help. Don't make unreasonable requirements. There isn't any financial assistance, which is disbursed in line with the progress of the project (funded with the financial assistance)," Iskandar said. (*)