Minister Of Industry Absent, HGBT Meeting With Minister Of Finance And Minister Of Energy And Mineral Resources No Decision

Gas prices (Photo: dock. Antara)

JAKARTA - A number of ministers held joint meetings to discuss the continuation of Certain Natural Gas Prices (HGBT) at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM).

However, this meeting took place briefly and there has been no official decision regarding the sustainability of this program because the Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita was unable to attend.

The meeting which started at 10.00 WIB was only attended by Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Arifin Tasrif, Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani, Head of SKK Migas Dwi Soetjipto and Director General of Metal, Machinery, Transportation Equipment, and Electronics (ILMATE) Taufiek Bawazier.

"There has been no decision yet because there is no Ministry of Industry," said Arifin Tasrif after a meeting at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Building, Friday, March 22.

Arifin confirmed that his party would reschedule the meeting with the 3 ministries.

"Yes, but we will schedule it later," added Arifin.

The rescheduling of the meeting was agreed by the Head of SKK Migas Dwi Soetjipto who stated that there would be a reschedule for the continuation and expansion of HGBT.

"It will be arranged again later. The minister of industry has not been able to attend," said Dwi briefly.

Present on the same occasion, Director General Ilmate, Taufiek said he also hoped that this cheap gas program would be continued. However, regarding the expansion, he admitted that he still had to wait for the decision of the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources.

"You have to continue HGBT. It should be expanded depending on the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources later," concluded Taufiek.