The name of the Energy and Mineral Resources Minister, Jero Wacik, has appeared in a suspected corruption case of gas allotment for the national fertilizer industry. Amid the heated accusations that have befallen him, Jero took the time to visit Tempo’s office last Thursday to explain his position on this matter. Excerpts from the interview are as follows:
What is your actual policy on gas supply for the fertilizer industry?
There is the President’s Instruction (Inpres) No. 2/2010 about the revitalization of the fertilizer industry. Five fertilizer industries developed by the government include Pupuk Kaltim, Iskandar Muda, Sriwijaya, Kujang and Petrokimia Gresik. The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry is tasked to provide the gas. Pupuk Kaltim gets it from the Makassar Strait, Iskandar Muda from Tangguh, Papua and Pusri from Pertamina EP. When I just took on the position of Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, Kujang and Petrokimia had no supplies for 2016. Each company requested 85 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd).
News on the Husky gas transfer from Petrokimia appeared after the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) invited you and a few other ministers last June.
I did not go because I was at the Chief Editors Forum in Bali, accompanying the president. The deputy minister for Energy and Mineral Resources went.
The KPK is concerned that the state would suffer a loss if Petrokimia got gas from Cepu.
The conclusion at the KPK seminar was that this is a policy that has not yet been taken. There are no indications leading to corruption. It can be settled by the executives. Afterwards, I sent a letter to UKP4 (thePresidential Working Unit for the Supervision and Management of Development) about the chronology and discussion of gas allotment for Petrokimia and Kujang.
Why did you discuss gas allotment with the KPK?
I was also confused as to why the discussion was held there. I already suggested to Hatta (Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Hatta Rajasa), things like this should be settled in our own (cabinet).
Didn’t the previous meeting at the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs office determine that Husky gas would be for Petrokimia?
It’s like this. Mr. Hatta said Husky gas is for Petrokimia. But I was given the opportunity to test the pipes using the pigging system. So, there’s no period at the end of that sentence, there’s a comma. As for the decision, we are waiting for the pipe tests. If the pigging results are technically okay, Husky gas is for Petrokimia. Clear.
It seems like you and SKK Migas are making it difficult for Husky to allot its gas to the fertilizer industry. Will Husky gas be handled by a broker?
To confirm, I have no negative intentions. I only intend to maintain the safety of the nation. I panic every time there’s a gas leak or pipe explosion.
Do you know what the US$200,000 cash discovered in the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry’s secretary general Waryono Karno’s office is for?
I don’t know what the money is for. That’s a legal case, so let the law handle it.
Isn’t the petty cash in a government office only allowed to add up to Rp10 million max and maybe a few more?
Don’t speculate. There are 70 to 80 offices in the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry office. It would be impossible for me to know what was in that room.
As a person and a boss, why don’t you want to know what the $200,000 is for? That’s why you’re suspected of taking kickbacks.
Let the KPK do their job.
BERNADETTE CHRISTINA | JOBPIE SUGIHARTO
