RI finds new gas sources
Thursday, September 28 2000 - 04:00 AM WIB
Indonesia has found a new major source of natural gas in a wide area stretching near the Perth seabed in Australian territory to the southern coast of Java island, President Abdurrahman Wahid said.
Other new sources of natural gas and oil have also been spotted in several areas in the sea of Java, Madura island and Blora district in Central Java province, President Wahid said during a meeting with the Indonesian community here Tuesday night.
The president is here to attend the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) summit on Wednesday - his first stop in a five-nation trip that will also take him to Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Canada.
"In addition to that, we have also found new natural gas deposits in Makassar straits (South Sulawesi province) and Irian Jaya (province)," said Wahid who was accompanied by Indonesian Ambassador to Venezuela Gaffar Fadyl.
"So, if we could manage our economy properly we could reap benefits quickly," he said, adding that the present government must shun any wrongdoing like what those took place in the past.
The president left Jakarta on Monday and is scheduled to return home on October 5. (*)