Owen to be replaced by Gibbs as ExxonMobil Indonesia President

By Godang Sitompul

Richard Owen, the President Director and General Manager of ExxonMobil Indonesia will be moved to Australia next month for a ?tour of duty,? according to a source.

?Richard Owen has been assigned for a tour of duty to Australia next month,? the source told Petromindo.com Friday.

Senior Vice President of ExxonMobil Indonesia, Asep Sulaiman confirmed to Petromindo.com that Owen would be replaced by Jhon Gibss from the US, who is expected to assume the post mid this year at the latest.

The decision by ExxonMobil Corp to replace Owen comes following a decision earlier this year by SKK Migas, the upstream oil and gas regulator, to not renew the work permit of Owen due to a number of reasons including the latter?s failure in meeting oil production target at the Cepu Block, in Central Java.

As an expatriate, Owen?s work permit in the country is renewed annually by the authority taking into account a number of factors. ExxonMobil Indonesia is the operator of the Banyu Urip field within the Cepu Block, seen as the backbone for the increase in oil production in the country.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak