Pertamina expert summoned for criticizing oil and gas bill

The board of commissioners of Pertamina has summoned Kartubi, a senior staff of expert at the state owned oil company Pertamina for his critical view on the draft law of the oil and gas which is now being debated by the House of Representatives (DPR), Media Indonesia reported on Thursday.

?This morning I was summoned by the secretary of the board of commissioners,? Kartubi was quoted by the daily as saying on Wednesday.

He said he was summoned to explain about his critical view against the bill in a number of discussion forums held with the press.

?I was asked about the motive of my criticism against the bill which is now being deliberated by the House members,? Kartubi added.

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro, who is also a member of Pertamina?s board of commissioners said he had not yet received any report related to the summon of Kartubi. But the minister said that any one within Pertamina who is against the bill had to clarify their statements to the board of commissioners.

The House is currently deliberating the bill on oil and gas, which will streamline the gas and oil industry and remove the monopoly which has been enjoyed by Pertamina for decades.

In a number of seminars, Kartubi said that the proposed law would instead threaten Pertamina?s existence.

The draft law on gas and oil was the second proposed by the government in three years. The first draft proposed during the administration of President Habibie in 1989 was rejected. (*)