PNG, Indonesia eyes cooperation in energy and mining

By Godang Sitompul

Minister of Energy and Mineral and Energy Jero Wacik and Papua New Guinea?s (PNG) Minister of State Enterprises Ben Micah held talks on Tuesday to explore opportunities for both neighboring countries to cooperate in energy and mining sector.

Jero said the meeting came ahead of the planned visit by PNG?s Prime Minister Peter O?Neill to Jakarta scheduled for June this year. The visit has been planned to follow the meeting between O?Neill with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in Bali during the Bali Democracy Forum.

Opportunities for both countries to cooperate in energy and mining sectors are huge, Jero said, citing data indicating the border areas between both countries were rich with oil, gas and minerals.

During the talk with Jero, Micah offered electricity projects to state owned electricity firm PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) and energy projects to state owned oil and gas firm PT Pertamina.

Editing by Johannes Simbolon