UI calls on House to delay approving oil and gas bill

The prestigious state University of Indonesia called on Tuesday on the House of Representatives to delay "approving" the oil and gas bill until the country had a comprehensive law covering all kinds of energy.

The university's Center for Energy Study said during a closed meeting with the House's Commission VIII for energy and mineral resources, environment, science and technology, the House should also delay the debating and approving process of the electricity and geothermal bills presented by the government until the so-called energy law was already available.

"We need an energy law, which will serve as an umbrella law for all other laws.

"Thereby, the approval of the oil and gas bill (including the electricity and geothermal bill should be delayed," the agency's director Rinaldy Dalimi said in the written statement presented during the closed meeting, made available to Petromindo.

Also presenting their views on the oil and bill during the meeting were the representatives of the Institute Technology of Bandung, UPN Veteran of Yogyakarta, Islamic University of Riau (Epin)