Oil, gas downstream body to have nine commissions

The government agency which holds the highest authority over the country?s downstream oil and gas sector is planned to have nine commissions, acting director general of oil and gas Kardaya Warnika told Petromindo.Com on Monday.

The commissions of the so-called Regulatory Body will deal with oil fuel production, oil fuel distribution, and the transmitting of natural gas through pipelines in downstream sector, Kardaya said.

Kardaya confirmed earlier reports that the regulatory body was expected to be formed late September. The reports also said that an inter-ministerial team would next week start deliberating the structure of the body based on the draft concept proposed by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.

Existing oil and gas law which became effective late last year stipulates the formation of the regulatory body before the end of 2002. Under the same law, the government in July formed the so-called Implementing Body which has the highest authority over Indonesia?s upstream oil and gas sector.

The law stripped Pertamina?s of its decades long monopoly over the country?s upstream and downstream sectors, and made the firm a limited liability company. (godang)