TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Commission VII of the House of Representatives is yet to decide its stance in relation to PT Lapindo Brantas Inc. plan to drill a new oil well in Tanggulangin, Sidoarjo, East Java.

"[No decision yet], because the team formed by Commission VII that visited Sidoarjo last Friday is yet to submit reports," said Gus Irawan Pasaribu, Chief of Commission VII on Monday, January 25, 2016. Another reason, according to Gus Irawan was because the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry is yet to issue the drilling permit.

Gus Irawan explained that the Commission will first discuss the team’s report. However, Gus underlined that Commission VII will continue to support government’s policy. "Commission VII's stance will be based [from the team's report], and support the ministry’s policy, which is yet to issue [drilling] license," Gus Irawan said.

During a work meeting with Commission VII, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sudirman Said denied claims saying that the government has issued drilling license for Lapindo Brantas. "It is not true that the government has issued the green light for Lapindo's drilling plan,"Minister Sudirman said.

Sudirman said that his ministry will conduct a technical discussion on the company's plan together with the Special Task Force on Upstream Oil and Gas Activities (SKK Migas), the East Java Provincial Government, Sidoarjo Regency Government, and several experts.

FRISKI RIANA