Deputy Minister Of SOEs Denies News Of Rosneft Leaving The Tuban NGRR Project: Not Changing Partners

Deputy Minister of SOEs Kartika Wirjoatmodjo. (Photo: Mery Handayani/VOI)

JAKARTA - Deputy Minister of SOEs Kartiko Wirjoatmodjo opened his voice about the issue of the departure of the Russian company, Rosneft from the Tuban New Grass Root Refinery and Petrochemical (NGRR) Refinery project.

Previously, Rosneft faced international sanctions due to the geopolitical war between Russia and Ukraine, making it difficult to provide funding for the national strategic project.

Tiko, Kartiko's nickname, said that his party was discussing finding a solution in the future for the Rosneft problem.

However, he ensured that Pertamina would still partner with Rosneft.

"We are discussing it because indeed Rosneft or Russia with geopolitical conditions now have challenges, we are discussing what we will be like in the future," Tiko told the media quoted on Tuesday, October 10.

Tiko added, the government will need a solution to this problem for the next 6 months.

Regarding the search for new partners for the NGRR project, Tiko said that Pertamina would continue to partner with Rosneft.

"Not yet there, but of course we see geopolitical conditions and financial strength for their investment needs," added Tiko.

Just so you know, the progress of the NGRR project has entered the stage of land expansion in stages.

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said that the New Grass Root Refinery Project of Tuban Refinery, East Java, which is included in the National Strategic Project (PSN) is experiencing funding problems because its investor, Rosneft, is still subject to international sanctions.

Regarding this, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Dadan Kusdiana said the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources wanted all PSN programs to run smoothly.

For this reason, his party will soon find further solutions.

"We want all PSN roads, we are looking for ways," Dadan told the media crew at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Building, Friday, October 6.

Dadan also said that dynamically, the project will continue to run.

This Tuban Refinery project is a project owned by PT Pertamina (Persero) which holds 55 percent of shares and Rosneft holds 45 percent of shares.