Indonesia's state energy firm Pertamina said Tuesday, December 4 it is seeking to secure an oil exploration deal with Iraq and to take part in its oil-for-food program under the United Nations.Pertamina director Baihaki Hakim said he hoped a planned visit to Iraq by Indonesian Vice President Hamzah Haz could help his company reach a deal.
"Hopefully this deal can be discussed in inter-governmental talks since Iraq's conditions stipulate that a visit must be made to Iraq by one of Indonesia's high-ranking officials. We hope that the (oil exploration) contract can be signed when the vice president is in Iraq," Hakim told reporters after talks with Haz at his office. No details were given of the exploration deal.
He said Pertamina also wanted to take part in Iraq's oil-for-food program with the UN. "We would like to buy the oil from Iraq under the UN program because we want to buy crude oil from Basra oil field and refine it into fuel in Indonesia," Hakim said.
Iraq signed an agreement with the United Nations on Monday renewing the "oil-for-food" program till May 30, 2002. If previous practice is followed, Iraq will submit a detailed plan later this month for distributing goods imported with UN approval for 10 economic sectors ranging from food and health to oil industry spare parts. — (AFP, Jakarta)
© Agence France Presse 2001
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
