Erick Thohir Ensures PLN And Pertamina Projects Continue Despite COVID-19

Pertamina Building. (Angga Nugraha / VOI)

JAKARTA - State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Minister Erick Thohir said that the project that is currently being worked on by a state-owned company will continue to run even if Indonesia is hit by the corona virus or COVID-19.

However, Erick emphasized that his party was currently reviewing which projects would be continued and which should be postponed in the midst of this pandemic.

"Of course, BUMN is indeed conducting a review with this situation, what kind of cash flow from BUMN. Which projects should take precedence, and which projects should be postponed, but it is impossible for us to postpone them all," he said, in a video conference with journalists at the Office. Ministry of BUMN, Jakarta, Monday, March 30.

Erick emphasized that projects that will continue in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic are projects that concern the lives of many people. One of them is the 35,000 Mega Watt power plant project.

"We know there are many strategic projects in BUMN, whether the construction of refineries, the Trans Pacific Petrochemical Indotama (TPPI) refinery, whether the development of tourist destinations, Lombok, Bali and others, must continue," he explained.

According to Erick, his party will not postpone projects that do not need to be postponed. Moreover, what President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) is targeting must continue, including the fast train.

"Keep going. But because of this condition there are workers who cannot enter, yes there is a delay. There are hundreds of millions of Indonesian people, so like it or not, public transportation will be prioritized," he said.

Even so, said Erick, his party would focus on projects that were being handled by PLN and Pertamina. "For the 35,000 Mega Watt that is already in the pipeline, there is PLN and there is a private sector that is building. There are advantages to Java, the BKPM head has already mapped the needs of the estate industry, so there is a synergy between the industry and PLN which is being mapped. "he explained.

"In East Java, Freeport needs a power plant for its shelter, now the door is at BKPM. This is also why I focus on PLN and Pertamina and it will be mapped," he continued.

However, Erick said, his party would deliver the project realization that was still being carried out after obtaining approval from the Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani. Because, there is PNM and there is own capital.

"I was mapping first, but it would be impossible if there was no coordination between ministries, because the important program now is a stimulus for the economy," he explained.

In addition, the Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Bahlil Lahadalia said that regarding SOE investment, his party would divide tasks. Meanwhile, for strategic projects such as oil refineries and PLN, the permits will be fully supported.

"Say in Tuban, the land is almost finished, the permit is almost complete. Including Pertamina in West Java, we have handled RT / RW and have entered the ATR Minister. So we still work on our priorities together," said Bahlil.

Then, continued Bahlil, for the 35,000 Mega Watt PLN project some of which are already running and will continue to run. However, please note that there is a surplus in Java.

"So there is no longer in Java. We give permission to companies other than PLN to build power plants," he explained.

Regarding investment realization, said Bahlil, the first quarter will be announced at the end of April. Bahlil admitted that he was optimistic that even if the COVID-19 virus hit the world and Indonesia, there would still be investment growth.

"I always say there will be growth compared to the realization in 2019. We have to build cooperation and optimism, business actors, we must be united," he said.