N. Sumatra demands return of oil fields

North Sumatra governor T Rizal Nurdin has complained about neighboring Aceh province benefiting more from the sales of oil extracted in North Sumatra, Suara Pembaruan daily reported on Monday.

?We ask for justice from the central government. Its policies on oil and gas should be changed so that the North Sumatra people could enjoy their own natural resources,? Rizal said in his meeting with members of the House of Representatives (DPR) in Jakarta recently.

Rizal said five oil fields namely Serang Jaya, Parapen, Kuala Dalam, Sungai Buluh and Kuala Simpang Timur were administratively part of North Sumatra province. But those oil fields were included in Aceh?s assets, and their oil was channeled to a terminal in East Aceh, the governor said.

The governor said he had sent a letter to Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources and Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno to convey their complaints.

Rizal demanded that state oil and gas firm Pertamina?s operation center which covered oil mining activities in northern Sumatra be reestablished in Pangkalan Susu in Langkat regency, North Sumatra. (*)