Indonesia, Iran Mull Oil Cooperation
23 April 2015 19:00 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has instructed Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sudirman Said to take follow-up action on the bilateral meeting with Iran on cooperation in oil sector.
"President Jokowi asked Energy and Mineral Resources Minister to begin cooperation," said Dian Wirengjurit, Indonesian Ambassador for Iran, on Thursday, April 23, 2015.
According to Dian, Iran's Oil Minister will visit Indonesia in late May or June to continue cooperation in the oil sector.
"Iran has some offers for Indonesia, such as how to make the cooperation unaffected by the West sanction towards Iran to avoid losses," said Dian.
Dian said that some projects had been postponed, such as the construction of oil refinery in Indonesia and development of fertilizer plan in Ira. The oil refinery project has been delayed since 2006 due to Indonesia's fear of the West sanctions towards Iran. "However, President Jokowi said the cooperation will be continued," Dian said.
Dian hoped that the Iranian Oil Minister and Indonesia's Energy and Mineral Resources Minister will meet to finish the delayed cooperation, including in infrastructure such as building of Trans Sumatera and Runway that needs asphalt from Iran.
ALI HIDAYAT
