President to Invite Inpex and Shell Regarding Block Masela Management

Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung responded to reporters’ questions after a Limited Meeting on Masela Block

A Limited Meeting on the management of Masela Block gas field project led by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, on Monday (1/2) afternoon has not decided whether the management of Masela Block will be conducted offshore or onshore.

Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung admitted that there are several significant differences in views between offshore and onshore management.

According to Pramono, the differences will add President’s insights in the decision making.

“Several arguments to conduct offshore management is based on cost recovery, State revenues, and others. While arguments to have onshore management is because it will cause multiplier effects to the people around the area,” Pramono said to the reporters on Monday (1/2) afternoon.

Because there are significant contrast in the views which will add President’s insight in the decision making, therefore, according to Pramono, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has chosen not to decide it today.

“Thus, the decision has not been made today. The President will specifically invite investors, namely Inpex and Shell and listen to their opinions because they are the one who will implement it,” Pramono said.

Pramono also said that the Masela Block Project will become the biggest gas project in the world.

Therefore, he added, it needs patience to make a decision, because the Government should not make a wrong decision.

Regarding the cabinet meeting, Pramono said that the meeting was very dynamic and warm. Cabinet Secretary said that the President was very happy during the meeting.

“We can have different opinions in a meeting, but we can not be different outside the room. Thus, there were indeed many variety in opinions during the cabinet meeting,” Pramono added.  (FID/UN/ES) (RAS/EP/YM/Naster)