Tanri Abeng named new Pertamina?s President Commissioner

By Godang Sitompul

Tanri Abeng, a renowned business executive during the President Soeharto era, has been appointed new president commissioner of state owned oil and gas firm PT Pertamina, the state firm said in a statement on Wednesday.

After serving the private sector for several decades, Tanri, who was born in South Sulawesi, served as Minister of State Enterprises during the last term of President Soeharto and the short presidency of BJ Habibie.

Aside from Tanri, Minister of State Enterprises Rini Soemarno also appointed Sahala Lumban Gaol, Suahasil Nazara, and Widhyawan Prawiraatmadja as commissioners.

The old Board of Commissioners consist of President Commissioner Sugiharto and commissioners Gatot Trihargo, Nurdin Zainal and Susilo Siswoutomo.

Rini noted that the government selected the new commissioners in view of the tough challenges faced by Pertamina ahead in its goal of becoming a world class company. All the new commissioners understand Pertamina?s business and have much interacted with Pertamina.

Meanwhile, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Sudirman Said called on Pertamina?s management along with the new board of commissioners to develop the firm into a world-class company based on the roadmap that has been made by the previous management, rather than making a new roadmap.

Editing by Johannes Simbolon