Minister denies reshuffle in Pertamina

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro denied Saturday reports that the government had issued a presidential decree to reshuffle state oil and gas company Pertamina's top management.

"The reports are untrue," Purnomo told Petromindo.Com at his office after a meeting with officials from the ministry of industry and trade.

Several papers, quoting sources, earlier reported that the government had issued a presidential decree to replace Gatot K Wiroyudho as upstream director with current production sharing management director Iin Arifin Takhyan and apppoint current business development director Effendi Situmorang as Iin's successor.

The papers said the decree also replaces current downstream director Ariffi Nawawi with his deputy for marketing and commercial affairs Muchsin Bahar.

Tens of people from the so-called Society Caring for Pertamina, who apparenlty trusted the reports, held a demonstration Saturday outside the ministry to protest the appointment of Muchsin as downstream director. (Godang)