Pertamina's boss tipped to become energy minister

Karen Agustiawan, president director of state owned oil and gas firm PT Pertamina, will replace Darwin Z. Saleh as Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, according to sources.

The sources told Petromindo.com on Wednesday that Karen would be installed as minister on Friday or Saturday.

Officials at the palace confirmed that they had learned about the impending replacement of Darwin by Karen but, they said, no official ceremony has been scheduled for the transfer of duty.

The ministry and palace officials have noticed that Karen has been gaining favor from President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono over Darwin. The president for instance brought along Karen to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Swiss where discussions focused among others on energy. Darwin did not join the Indonesian delegation.

According to some sources, Karen as Pertamina's president will be replaced by Nanang Untung, now a senior vice president gas of Pertamina (Persero), who is also a brother of former Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati.

Detik.com however said there are two persons who have chances to replace Karen as Pertamina's president, that is Triharyo Susilo, now a commisioner of the state owned firm, and Frederick ST Siahaan, Investment and management risk director of Pertamina (persero). (godang)