President Yudhoyono installs new energy minister Jero Wacik, others

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono installed Jero Wacik, former State Minister for Culture and Tourism, as new Energy and Mineral Resources Minister (ESDM) this morning, along with other newly-appointed ministers.

He replaces Darwin Zahedy Saleh who was seen to have poor communication and relationship with industry players.

Jero Wacik will be assisted by deputy energy minister Widjajono Partowidagdo, a member of National Energy Council (DEN) and a professor at Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB). Widjajono was also installed this morning along with other newly-appointed deputy ministers.

Jero Wacik is a senior Democratic Party politician. He graduated from mechanical engineering at Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) and holds economics degree from University of Indonesia.

Other new ministers who were installed including Baltazar Kambuaya, former Rector of Cendrawasih University, Papua, as Minister for Environment; E.E. Mangindaan as Minister for Transportation, replacing Freddy Numberi; Dahlan Iskan as Minister for State Owned Enterprise; Tjitjip Sharif Sutardjo as Minister for Maritime and Fishery, replacing Fadel Muhammad; former National Investment Coordinating Board Gita Wirjawan as Trade Minister, replacing Mari Elka Pangestu; and senior Democratic Party politician Amir Syamsuddin as new Minister for Law and Human Rights.

The new ministers were appointed as part of cabinet reshuffle undertaken by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.(roffie)