New SKK Migas chairman installed

By Godang Sitompul

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Jero Wacik installed on Wednesday Rudi Rubiandini as Chairman of SKK Migas, a new agency established to replace BPMIGAS for the supervision of oil an gas upstream sector.

?Presidential Decree No. 7/2013 appointed Dr. Ing. Ir. Rudi Rubiandini as Chairman of SKK Migas on Jan. 11. 2013. On behalf of the President of Republic of Indonesia I am installing you as Chairman of SKK Migas,? Jero said.

Present at the ceremony were among others Cabinet Secretary Sudi Silalahi, member of the House of Representatives? Commission VII Milton Pakpahan and Susilo Siswoutomo, who replaced Rudi as Vice Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources.

Jero noted in his speech that SKK Migas is an agency of significant importance for the country as it supervises an industry that provide up to US$34 billion per year in revenue to the government.

He said the new agency will be supervised by a newly-established Supervisory Commission where the Minister and Vice Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources serve as Chairman and Vice Chairman respectively. Such a supervisory commission was non-existent during BPMIGAS years.

?You need to work hard to secure oil and gas production. I believe you can perform well. Our President?s wishes are that all units can maintain their integrity particularly in terms of corruption. You need also to be vigilant so that there is no impression among the public that we favor foreign investors.

?Furthermore, we have to push the CSR programs of PSC to bring benefits to the people, particularly in villages close to drilling sites,? he said.

Editing by Johannes Simbolon