Oil, gas contractors urged to use local-made equipment

By Peni Pedriawan

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Jero Wacik urged oil and gas contractors operating in the country to use production equipment made in the country which have met quality standard in a bid to generate more jobs and accelerate economic growth.

Speaking at a ceremony held Friday to inaugurate the production facility of threaded pipe of PT Dhiva Sarana Metal in Batam, Jero said that although some domestically manufactured equipment may have higher price than imported ones, oil and gas contractors are encouraged to use the domestic ones.

He added that although much of the equipment used in the oil and gas sector are still imported, the government has kept on pushing to increase the percentage of equipment produced at home used in the economically important sector.

?Please don?t easily resort on import if the domestic products are available,? he said.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak