WE Online, Jakarta – Director of PT Maluku Energi Abadi (MEA), Musalam Latuconsina said that the people of Maluku continue to question the continuation of the Masela Block gas project.
He conveyed this in the Webinar “Masela Block in the Economic Development of the Maluku Community”, Wednesday (12/8/2021).
As is known, the BUMD of the Maluku Provincial Government has participated in working on the 10% participatory interest (PI) of the Masela Block.
“The Masela Block work process has started with the Inpex operator. MEA as a representative of the Maluku Provincial Government has participated in the stages of the process from stages 1-7. However, in May 2021, suddenly there was a letter from Inpex asking for the process to be completed. hold or delay on the grounds that there are directions from SKK Migas and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources,” he said.
He continued, within a week the letter was immediately replied to Inpex, including letters sent to SKK Migas and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.
“Our letter has not been answered until now, both by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, SKK Migas and also Inpex. My question is why they did not reply to our letter,” he explained.
Previously, the Directorate General of Oil and Gas stated that Article 17 of the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources No. 37/2016 prioritized a 10 percent PI for BUMD and at that time it assumed the BUMD in question was a Provincial BUMD.
“So if there is a Regency-owned BUMD and so on, it should have been submitted from the initial stage. Don’t be in the sixth stage, something like this will appear for reasons that are not in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations,” he said.
“Nevertheless, we are still waiting in accordance with the applicable regulations, even if there is a change in the MEA regulations, we will still wait. If there are regulations that have changed, the people of Maluku will obey the rules,” he added.
In addition, his party also hopes that the 10 percent PI in the three working areas in Maluku can be obtained soon.
“What we expect from the 10 percent PI fund has indeed been allocated. The first one we must allocate to operational funds, because we also have a business field that will be developed for the benefit of the Maluku people,” he said.
“While the rest will definitely go to Maluku Province’s Original Regional Revenue (PAD), and later from the province it will be distributed to all regencies/cities in Maluku Province. That will be the policy of the governor as a leader in Maluku province,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Head of the SKK Migas Formality Division, Syaifuddin, answered that the 10% PI share had been realized, namely to the Maluku Provincial Government.
Furthermore, the provincial government must form a BUMD so that it can participate in running the business and become part of the Oil and Gas Block with 10% PI shares according to the provisions of the Act.
Meanwhile, Barkun, a representative of the Directorate General of Oil and Gas at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, said the rules regarding the 10% PI are clear for producing regions. The government is committed to implementing the policy, and so far the process has been running in the Masela Block.
Even so, said Barkun, the 10% PI has a limit. For oil and gas blocks in waters such as the Masela Block, if they are in the range of 1-4 miles from the coastline, then that is part of the producing Regency/City. However, if it is 4-12 miles from the coastline, then the 10% PI becomes part of the oil and gas-producing provincial government.
“Regarding the cross-dispute of the PI 10% of the Masela Block, it belongs to the Regency or Provincial Government of Maluku and or other regions that will receive it, under the authority of the Central Government cq. The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources will decide. Unfortunately, until now we have not received the decision,” he said.
“In essence, the Masela Block is a national strategic project and needs to be supported by all parties. If the Malela Block is operational and produces gas, then all will receive the benefits for the local government through the regional budget and the central government through the state budget,” he said.
Source: https://wartaekonomi.co.id/read379396/kelanjutan-participating-interest-10-blok-masela-dungguin-rakyat-maluki?page=3
