Minister Arifin Mandates New Director General of Oil and Gas to Curb Imports

MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES

REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA

PRESS RELEASE

NUMBER: 342.Pers/04/SJI/2020

Date: 6 November 2020

Minister Arifin Mandates New Director General of Oil and Gas to Curb Imports

On Friday (6/11), Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (EMR) Arifin Tasrif officially swore in Tutuka Ariadji as Director General of Oil and Gas of Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources. Tutuka is expected to curb imports of Oil Fuels and Liquified Natural Gas (LPG) to ease the burden on the country's foreign exchange in the future.

"This can be done by accelerating the development of refinery infrastructure and gas networks, and by massively using new, renewable energy such as biodiesel and Dimethyl Ether (DME)," said Arifin in his speech at the swearing in ceremony of Madya (echelon I) and Pratama (echelon II) High Level Officials at Chairul Saleh Building of Ministry of EMR in Jakarta.

Additionally, Arifin hopes that the new Director General of Oil and Gas can realize several strategic programs of the oil and gas subsector. One such program that has drawn Arifin's attention is the fulfillment of ready-to-sell (lifting) oil target of one million barrels per day by 2030.

This target can be met by maintaining a high level of existing production, transforming resources into production, using Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) technology, and undertaking massive exploration. "Until September 2020, the average oil and gas lifting realization was 1,712 MBOPED or 100% of the target in the APBN-P (Revised State Budget)," Arifin explained.

Another no less important policy is the adjustment of natural gas prices as an effort to increase domestic gas utilization. "Hopefully, this policy can accelerate economic growth and increase national competitiveness," hoped Arifin.

Tutuka has a strong educational background in petroleum and mining engineering. He once served as Chair of the IATMI (Society of Indonesian Petroleum Engineers). Between 2016 and 2019, he was the general chair of ITB Professors. (IY)

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