Pertamina Evaluates 33 Work Contracts
Friday, 08 December, 2006 | 17:39 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: PT Pertamina is evaluating 33 technical assistance contracts that are targeted to be finished the first half of 2007. According to the Upstream Director of Pertamina, Sukusen Soemarinda, the evaluation is aimed at viewing commitment of joint companies to obey the agreement.

“They are given a warning letter to obey the commitment as adopting the contract,' he said in a public hearing with Energy Commission at the House of Representatives (DPR) Wednesday night (12/6 at the parliamentary complex. The team that Pertamina formed has started working.

As much as 33 contracts of oil exploration have been signed as of 1990s. However, there are only five partners that produce more than 2,000 barrels per day. The rest produce less. In fact, there are companies that do not produce anything. If the companies holding the contracts do not pay attention to the warning letter, Pertamina will sever the contracts.

Nonetheless, the Energy Commission has felt that Pertamina is not transparent in exposing the company's performance, including work contracts and the choice of company's consultant. The commission has threatened that they will form a working committee for investigating Pertamina if the state-owned company is unable to bring State Minister of State-Owned Enterprises and Commissioner of Pertamina into the next meeting.

According to Managing Director of Pertamina, Ari H. Soemarno, his company has been transparent as the audit result of the Supreme Audit Agency and public accountant show. “If the House is not satisfied with it, then it must audit us by itself,” he said.

ANTON APRIANTO