Indonesia Join OPEC Again

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) invites Indonesia to rejoin an active member.

Deputy Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (EMR), Arcandra Tahar said, Indonesia has sent a letter to OPEC on the call to re-join the organization. The letter has now been received by OPEC.

"It is true we are being offered back to OPEC, and we have also sent Letters to OPEC and again within OPEC internally," said Arcandra at ESDM office, Jakarta, Friday (7/7).

Although again willing to be active in OPEC. Arcandra asserted, Indonesia will not cut oil production as requested by OPEC. Previously, Indonesia decided to temporarily freeze its membership in OPEC. The decision was taken during OPEC's 171th Session in Vienna, Austria, on Wednesday.

The freezing measures were taken following a court decision to cut crude output by 1.2 million barrels per day (bpd) outside the condensate. The trial also asked Indonesia to cut about 5 percent of its production or about 37,000 bpd.

Though the cuts that can be accepted by Indonesia is 5,000 bpd. As an oil importer country, cutting production capacity is clearly not beneficial to Indonesia, as the price of oil will theoretically rise.

With this membership freeze, Indonesia has recorded twice freeze membership in OPEC. The first freeze in 2008, effective 2009.

IN INDONESIA

Indonesia Gabung OPEC Lagi

Organisasi Negara-negara Pengekspor Minyak atau Organization of the PetroIeum Exporting Countries (OPEC) mengajak Indonesia bergabung kembali jadi anggota aktif.

Wakil Menteri Energi dan Sumber Daya Mineral (ESDM), Arcandra Tahar mengatakan, Indonesia sudah mengirimkan Surat ke OPEC atas ajakan untuk kembali bergabung di organisasi itu. Surat itu kini sudah diterima oleh OPEC.

“Benar kita ditawari kembali ke OPEC, dan kita juga sudah mengirimkan Surat ke OPEC dan lagi di internalnya OPEC,” kata Arcandra di kantor ESDM, Jakarta, Jumat [7/7).

Meski kembali bersedia untuk aktif di OPEC. Arcandra menegaskan, Indonesia tidak akan memangkas produksi minyak seperti yang diminta OPEC. Sebelumnya, Indonesia memutuskan untuk membekukan sementara keanggotaannya di OPEC. Keputusan tersebut diambil dalam Sidang ke- 171 OPEC di Wina, Austria, Rabu [30/11).

Langkah pembekuan diambil menyusul keputusan sidang untuk memotong produksi minyak mentah sebesar 1,2 juta barel per hari (bph) di Iuar kondensat. Sidang juga meminta Indonesia untuk memotong sekitar 5 persen dari produksinya atau sekitar 37.000 bph.

Padahal pemotongan yang bisa diterima Indonesa adalah sebesar 5.000 bph. Sebagai negara importir minyak, pemotongan kapasitas produksi jelas tidak menguntungkan Indonesia, karena harga minyak secara teoritis akan naik.

Dengan pembekuan keanggotaan ini, Indonesia tercatat sudah dua kali membekukan keanggotaan di OPEC. Pembekuan pertama pada tahun 2008, efektif berlaku 2009.

Surya, Page-3, Saturday, July 8, 2017