Pertamina Overwhelmed In Managing Hotel Business Era Ibnu Sutowo

President Soekarno shook hands with Ibnu Sutowo. (Perpusnas)

JAKARTA - No one doubts the power of Ibnu Sutowo to develop Pertamina. He became one of the figures who made the Indonesian oil industry excited. Even he was able to turn Pertamina into a money machine.

This achievement did not make Sutowo complacent. He wanted to develop Pertamina's business so that he would not only rely on oily 'colams'. Pertamina's hospitality business was also carried out. In fact, the recitation became the master's weapon. Instead of big profits, Pertamina's hotel business was overwhelmed.

Strong desire to learn is often the key to success. Sutowo agreed to the narrative. The man who was born in Yogyakarta, September 23, 1914, did not have much experience in the world of oil. Everything changed when the Old Order government gave him the mandate to lead the former Dutch oil economy, Bataafsche Petroleum Maatschappij.

The company was nationalized as PT. Explore Tambang Sumatra. The desire to learn the intricacies of oil emerged. Maybe he doesn't really understand oil, but not with his staff. He chooses trained personnel in the world of oil.

The results were brilliant. The old and abandoned company was actually able to be established. In fact, it became an mine for Indonesian money. Sutowo's ability also drew praise, from the leadership of the Old Order to the New Order (Orba).

This capacity encourages the New Order to carry out the idea of combining state oil companies Permina and Pertamina into one container. The State Oil and Gas Mining (Pertamina) was also present in 1968.

The presence of the State Company (now: BUMN) is increasingly making Sutowo's name soar. He was hailed to be the figure who built Pertamina from zero to large. Pertamina often brings profit to the state. Pertamina's profit can increase the country's ammunition to build many things.

"That way in those years Pertamina will launch as well as projects that we have been planning for a long time. Pertamina's success as a national company may feel even more prominent because at that time many other state companies collapsed. So people are busy talking about it. "

"However, in addition to many who are amazed to see the rapid progress that Pertamina has achieved, there are also those who look at it suspiciously and badly. And behind people's admiration for Pertamina they mention my name. Is it okay to do it. There are also those who circumvent. But I don't care about the sarcastic voices, "said Ibnu Sutowo as written by Ramadhan KH in Ibnu Sutowo's book: It's Time I Tell You (2008).

Sutowo is increasingly confident in building Pertamina. His business efforts began in the future. Sutowo wants Pertamina to work on investment in all fields. The study is so that Pertamina does not only rely on oil ponds.

Massive investment in various fields is encouraged. Pertamina also invested in the hotel sector in the 1970s. The investment was carried out in the hope that it would obtain a large source of financing from the foreign capital market.

Hotels with Pertamina management began to be present throughout the country from Java to Bali. Many of the hotels have the Patra brand, from the Patra Anyer Hotel to the Patra Bandung Hotel. The hotel business is considered capable of bringing in abundant profits.

In fact, it's far from hot. Hospitality business is not an easy thing. This condition is the same as other Pertamina businesses outside of oil which do not bring promising profits. Hospitality investment actually adds to Pertamina's debt coffers.

This condition lasted until Sutowo was defeated by Suharto and New Order in 1976. Pertamina's hotel business never got abundant results. As a result, Sutowo's successor was then forced to release several of his hotels, a subsidiary of Pertamina, PT. Patra Jasa in 1989. This fact is proof that leaving the core business is not at all easy.

'Managing the oil business is not easy. Starting from looking for concave deposits, capturing production partners, to marketing them. Licin is like anchovies Well, if it is added to other businesses outside of oil and gas, it must be more complicated. Maybe that's why, after Pelita Air Service was absorbed in 1985, then last April Pertamina released eight hotels to PT. Patra Jasa.'

leaving does not mean donating or selling. Make no mistake. Make Pertamina, let go of the meaning of benefiting the subsidiary. Previously, Pertamina participated in managing, in addition to covering losses. But now the rights and obligations are entirely in the hands of PT. Patra Jasa," explained Budi Kusumah and his friends in Tempo Magazine entitled Yang Cerah-Cerah, Agile (1989).