Pertamina Boss Ensures Crisis In Syria Does Not Affect Indonesia's Oil Supply

JAKARTA - President Director of PT Pertamina (Persero) Simon Aloysius Mantiri responded to the impact of the Syrian crisis on the logistics operations of Pertamina's tanker.

Simon said that until now the conflict that occurred in the central eastern region had no impact on ship operations even though it passed through conflict areas. Pertamina has also taken a number of anticipatory steps.

"With Syria, we are still safe. Of course, for routes from our tankers that pass through conflict areas, of course we anticipate by looking for other safer routes," said Simon at the Ministry of SOEs Building, Monday, December 9.

Simon did not deny that the use of alternative routes would later affect the cost of transportation which would be higher than the proper route. However, he ensured that the route traversed by Pertamina's logistics was still safe.

"For example, if the route through the conflict area is too risky, and we go through other routes which are certainly further away and the cost is higher, of course there must be other alternatives that we take. But for the current position we are still safe and under control," explained Simon.

On the same occasion, Simon also admitted that he was concerned about the conflict in Syria.

According to him, geopolitical conflicts are actually one of the factors that affect world oil prices.

For this reason, he hopes that world leaders will be wiser in finding a peaceful way to the conflict.

"Of course, with diplomacy, we always encourage world leaders to be wiser and can find a way of peace," said Simon.

For information, the Syrian rebel group on Sunday announced it had ousted President Bashar al-Assad after capturing control of the capital Damascus, forcing him to leave the country.

The rebels said they had entered the capital without any signs of deploying troops.

Thousands of people in the car and walked around the main square in Damascus waving and chanting "Freedom" from half a century of Assad's family rule, witnesses said.