Upstream sector?s draft regulations submitted to ministers

The ministry of energy and mineral resources submitted on Wednesday a series of draft government regulations regarding oil and gas upstream sector to four government agencies for studying before they can be submitted to president, the ministry?s public relations and law agency chief Sutisna Prawira told Petromindo.Com.

These agencies will give their observations and suggestions.

?The four agencies are the ministry of justice and human rights, ministry of finance, ministry of home affairs and the national land agency (BPN),? Sutisna told Petromindo in a telephone interview.

Each and every institution must give its acceptance, observation or suggestions on the draft regulations before December 5, 2003. If his ministry not receives any response from the four agencies until the deadline, it has the right to submit the draft directly to the President,? he said.

?With this, we hope the upstream sector?s draft government regulations will reach the presidential palace by early December this year,? he explained.

As far as the draft government regulations regarding oil and gas downstream sector, it is in the process of deliberations between the various ministries.

?The ministries involved in the deliberations are the ministry of transportation, ministry of industry, ministry of justice and human rights, ministry of home affairs and the coordinating agency for investment and Cabinet secretary,? Sutisna said.

Formulating government regulations covering both the downstream and upstream sectors are part of the implementation of the 2001 Oil and Gas Law. (godang)