So The Minister Of Energy And Mineral Resources, Bahlil Gets A Task From Jokowi To Increase Oil Lifting

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia. (Photo: Maria Trisnawati/VOI)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo officially inaugurated Bahlil Lahadalia as Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) replacing Arifin Tasrif.

In his remarks at the handover of positions at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Building, Bahlil admitted that he had received an assignment from President Joko Widodo and President-elect Prabowo Subianto to increase oil lifting.

"Earlier, I asked him in the morning, ( Bahlil's job) was to continue what Mr. Arifin had done regarding the optimization of increasing our oil lifting of idle wells that had been given by SKK Migas," said Bahlil in his remarks, Monday, August 19.

Related to this, Bahlil also asked the President Director of PT Pertamina (Persero) Nicke Widyawati to hold in-depth talks regarding oil lifting which is decreasing, while fuel consumption continues to increase from time to time.

"So Ibu Dirut Pertamina (Nicke), ini kita harus bicara detail karena lifting kita turun terus turun, konsumsi naik, impor terus, barang kita ada," sambung Bahlil.

Bahlil also said that the discussion with the Pertamina boss would also discuss the regulatory issues in the upstream oil and gas sector which were considered less competitive.

"If that's the problem of being regulated, what should we change, what sweeter (incentives) should the state provide so that we are competitive," continued Bahlil.

In the remaining term of office, Bahlil also said that he would focus on continuing a number of work that had been done by his predecessor, Arifin Tasrif, while improving things that needed to be improved.

"The memory of the task is already there and I will continue what Pak Arifin has done well and full of responsibility," he concluded.