Ministry further cuts number of oil and gas permits

The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has cut the number of permits that oil and gas contractors need to obtain as part of the efforts to create a simpler, faster, transparent licensing process, the ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

The number of permits has been cut to 42 types from 51, effective early May of this year, the ministry said, adding that in the past, the number of permits that contractors were obliged to obtain reached 104 types. The number was cut to 51 in 2012.

The ministry said all the permits can be obtained at the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), which has been assigned by the government to become the one-stop licensing service provider.

?We shall station our people at BKPM to serve investors and conduct evaluation. If investors request a very specific permit, such request will be fowarded to the directorate general for a follow-up. However, if they request general permits, the request will be processed right there (BKPM). This policy aims to reduce direct contacts between investors and the directorate general?s officials,? Acting Director General of Oil and Gas IGN Wiratmaja said.

The types of permits that can be applied for at BKPMG includes the Foreign Worker Employment Permit (IMTA), Letter of Recommendation for Opening or Renewal of Oil and Gas Company Representative Office, General Survey Permit, Permit for Survey Outside of Oil and Gas and CBM Working Areas, Letter of Recommendation for Oil and Gas Exports and Imports, Oil and Gas Certificate of Registration (SKT), License for Oil and Gas Technical Inspection Service Provider (PJIT), Letter of Recommendation for Purchasing, Utilization and Destruction of Explosives.

Editing by Johannes Simbolon