Top Jakarta officials plan to visit Exxon
Wednesday, May 23 2001 - 08:30 AM WIB
Top officials from Jakarta including the military chief, police chief, and minister of communications planned to visit ExxonMobil oil and gas facility in the troubled Aceh province in a bid to seek ways to allow the company to resume operation, Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Purnomo Yusgiantoro said on Wednesday.
Purnomo said that he would accompany the Jakarta officials.
"We plan to make the visit at the end of this month," he said on Wednesday.
ExxonMobil has temporarily closed down its operation in Aceh due to concern over security problem in the troubled area. It is still not clear when ExxonMobil would resume operation. The shut down has caused the country to face problem in meeting overseas LNG contract as the ExxonMobil facility provides the gas need for LNG production.
The ExxonMobil case has also greatly affect investor sentiment in the country. The restart of the ExxonMobil operation would not only ensure LNG supply to Japan and South Korea, but also help revive investor confidence, a crucial factor to help the country out of its current economic woes.
The Aceh province has been plagued with rebellion launched by the Free Aceh Movement, which has long been demanding a separation of the oil and gas-rich Aceh province from Indonesia.(Godang)