Minister supports Pertamina over plan to ask ExxonMobil to replace RI executives
Friday, June 29 2001 - 02:13 AM WIB
Pertamina?s president Baihaki Hakim said Thursday he would ask ExxonMobil?s headquarters in the United States to send ?courageous staff? to replace its existing executives in Indonesia if the latter still refuse to resume the company?s gas operation in Lhok Sukon, North Aceh.
?I fully supports Baihaki?s proposal. I even encourage him to do so(to ask ExxonMobil replace its existing executives in Indonesia),? Purnomo told Petromindo.Com Friday morning via telephone.
ExxonMobil Oil Indonesia Inc (EMOI), the Indonesian unit of ExxonMobil, halted its gas operation in the area in March, forcing nearby liquefied natural gas (LNG) producer PT Arun NGL Co, which is jointly owned by Pertamina and ExxonMobil, to stop its LNG production and exports. The company suspended the operation on security problems arising from the violent conflicts between the Indonesian military, police and local rebels.
Last week, following heavy pressures from the government, the company agreed to resume its gas operation and started to fix broken pipes as part of the preparation to resume the gas operation. But, the company stopped some of the preparatory works Monday following a bomb explosion near its gas field in the morning, citing that the explosion injured one of its workers and damaged one van belonging to the company.
Pertamina?s officials said ExxonMobil exaggerated the incident, saying the incident caused only a minor injury on the worker and a slight damage on the vehicle.
Meanwhile, a senior Pertamina official, who wanted to remain anonymous, told Petromindo Friday morning that Pertamina would ask for the replacement of EMOI?s senior vice president for production Marty Massy.
EMOI?s spokesman Deddy Afidick refused Friday to give any comments on the Pertamina plan.
?I am now out of town, and just read the news about the plan on the newspapers,? he said. (Godang/Alex)