Discussion Begins January

Discussion on the revision of Law Number 22 of 2001 concerning Oil and Gas will begin to be discussed early next year because it needs to go through a synchronization process within the House of Representatives (DPR).

“The revision of the Oil and Gas Law Plan (RUU) is still being discussed at Commission VII [DPR]. The mechanism is probably December until the Legislative Body of the DPR, if it reaches the Legislative Body, it means that all factions have agreed," said member of Commission VII DPR Satya Yudha.

According to him, after the draft arrives at the Legislative Body, it will then be submitted to a plenary meeting so that January can begin to be discussed. After that, a working committee or a special committee for the revision of the Oil and Gas Law will be formed.

“After that, we can start discussions with the government. Satya added that the official discussion of the oil and gas bill depends on the Legislative Body of the DPR.

If using the special committee mechanism, other commissions in the DPR can participate in discussing the revision of the regulation. If using the working committee mechanism, only Commission VII will discuss the revision of the Oil and Gas Law.

“And that mechanism has not been chosen at this time. Previously, Deputy Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Arcandra Tahar, said that in general his party would continue the programs that were already underway. Several tasks, such as the completion of revisions to the Mineral, Coal, and Oil and Gas Laws will be a priority in fixing the ESDM sector. 

Several parties have urged the Government and the DPR to immediately determine the deadline for enacting the proposed Law on Oil and Gas to become a law in order to improve the investment climate and at the same time encourage the growth of the Indonesian economy.

The Executive Director of the Reforminer Institute, Komaidi Notonegoro, hopes that the government and the DPR will immediately determine the completion of the discussion on the revision of Law Number 22 of 2001 concerning Oil and Gas. 

Discussion on the revision of the Oil and Gas Law has been going on for eight years. He suggested that if the discussion on the revision was slow, the government should issue a Government Regulation in Lieu of Law (PerPPU). The same thing was expressed by an energy expert from Trisakti University, Pri Agung Rakhamanto, who stated that there must be a target for completing the revision of the Oil and Gas Law.

Bisnis Indonesia, Page-30, Tuesday, Oct 25, 2016