Minister goes to China for LNG sales
Wednesday, July 11 2001 - 04:02 AM WIB
Purnomo initially planned to leave on Monday but he delayed the departure as he had to install several new directors of state oil and gas company Pertamina that day.
On Tuesday, he also planned to delay again the visit as he wished to go to Aceh to inspect the gas operation of American oil and gas company ExxonMobil Oil Indonesia Inc in the region, but the palace ordered him to soon go to China.
?I was ordered by the President to leave for China this evening,? Purnomo told Petromindo. Com prior to his departure.
The minister was accompanied by his expert staff for economic and financial affairs Kardaya Warnika, secretary to the ministry?s directorate general of oil and gas Waryono Karno, president of state oil and gas company Pertamina Baihaki Hakim, BP Indonesia?s president Bill Schrader and BP Indonesia's vice president for governmental affairs Satya W. Yudha, sources said.
Indonesia planned to supply China with LNG from the Tangguh LNG plantin Irian Jaya, which is owned by a consortium led by Anglo-American energy giant BP.
The Chinese government has said it wanted to import 3 million tons of LNG per year for its first LNG imports and aside from Indonesia, other countries, including Australia, Qatar, and Malaysia were also interested to participating in the tender for the LNG supplies. (Godang)