SKK Migas, land agency sign MoU

By Godang Sitompul

Upstream authority SKK Migas, signed Friday an memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the National Land Agency (BPN) in a bid to help facilitate land provision and land certification for oil and gas exploration activities.

SKK Migas has also requested BPN to ease the land permit requirement, under which the agency currently requires a special land permit for land acquisition of more than 1 hectare, a condition that has often hampered exploration activities particularly in Sumatra. SKK Migas wants BPN to expand the limit to 5 ha.

?SKK Migas has requested for the limit to be set at 5 ha, and a speedy service for drilling activities,? SKK Migas Chairman Rudi Rubiandini told Petromindo.com Friday.

Hanif Rusjdi, Head of Formality Working Group at SKK Migas, said that the objectives of the MoU is to help facilitate the certification of land used in upstream oil and gas activities; obtain the support of BPN in resolving land conflict encountered by oil and gas production sharing contractors; and facilitate land provision for the oil and gas industry.

Hanif said that eventually the MoU would be followed up with the signing of a cooperation agreement.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak