JAKARTA, (Reuters) - Indonesia is expected to start up a new petrochemical plant, Trans Pacific Petrochemical Indotama (TPPI), this month, starting at 60 percent-capacity to produce aromatic and oil products, an official at state oil firm Pertamina said on Friday.
TPPI, located in Tuban city in East Java province, has a capacity of 100,000 barrels per day (bpd) of condensate to feed its splitter.
"We expect Tuban Petrochemical (TPPI) to start up this month because everything is almost ready," Pertamina's processing director Suroso Atmomartoyo told Reuters, referring to the plant's alternative name.
"The plant (initially) will run at 60 percent capacity and will gradually increase after that. However, that will also depend on how much feedstock we have," he said.
Atmomartoyo said the plant would find some condensate from domestic sources and some from abroad.
"We know that there is not much domestic condensate. We will take some from Senipah," he said. Indonesia produces around 125,000 bpd of condensates, some of which are exported. The 125,000-bpd volume includes 25,000 bpd from Senipah.
Atmomartoyo said the petrochemical output would include 1.1 million tonnes of kerosene, 189,000 tonnes of diesel oil, 500,000 tonnes of paraxylene, 120,000 tonnes of orthoxylene, and 100,000 tonnes of toluene.
"If the feedstock is 100,000 bpd, then that is the level of production. If the feedstock is less, then the output will also become less than that," Atmomartoyo said.
He said most of the petrochemical products would be absorbed by the domestic market, while Pertamina would take all of its oil products.
Another Pertamina official who declined to be named said Pertamina owns 15 percent of TPPI and local company TubanPetro has 59.5 percent. Siam Cement of Thailand and Japanese firms Sojitz Corp. as well as Itochu Corp. have the remaining stakes.
Soruce:
Reuters
Sunday, February 12, 2006
Indonesia is considering selling an army-owned airline
JAKARTA, (Reuters) - Indonesia is considering selling an army-owned airline, PT Mandala Airlines, as part of efforts to reform the armed forces, military chief Endriartono Sutarto said on Friday.
The Indonesian parliament approved a law in 2004 restricting the armed forces, known as Tentara Nasional Indonesia (TNI), from doing business. The armed forces have widely diversified businesses, mostly run through foundations, in sectors such as forestry and finance.
"TNI is no longer allowed to do business," Sutarto told reporters. "On Mandala ... the decision is to sell it."
Indonesia's airlines have been hit by soaring fuel prices. The Indonesian government has said it may sell up to 49 percent of flag carrier Garuda Indonesia to strategic investors. Garuda defaulted on a $55 million debt repayment at the end of 2005.
The government has vowed to help Garuda cope with its financial problems, which Garuda president director Emirsyah Satar has blamed on a weakening rupiah, higher oil prices and competition in the industry.
Source:
Reuters
The Indonesian parliament approved a law in 2004 restricting the armed forces, known as Tentara Nasional Indonesia (TNI), from doing business. The armed forces have widely diversified businesses, mostly run through foundations, in sectors such as forestry and finance.
"TNI is no longer allowed to do business," Sutarto told reporters. "On Mandala ... the decision is to sell it."
Indonesia's airlines have been hit by soaring fuel prices. The Indonesian government has said it may sell up to 49 percent of flag carrier Garuda Indonesia to strategic investors. Garuda defaulted on a $55 million debt repayment at the end of 2005.
The government has vowed to help Garuda cope with its financial problems, which Garuda president director Emirsyah Satar has blamed on a weakening rupiah, higher oil prices and competition in the industry.
Source:
Reuters
Indonesia VP Wants Revision Of Freeport Profit Sharing Deal
JAKARTA -(Dow Jones)- Soaring mineral prices on the global market justify a revision of the government's profit-sharing agreement with U.S. mining giant Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc., Indonesia's Vice President Jusuf Kalla said Friday.
"Prices of gold and nickel are currently high, (and) based on this, profit sharing should be increased by two-to-three times from the previous figures," Kalla told reporters, without elaborating on the terms of the government's current profit sharing deal.
Kalla said his desire to gain a bigger slice of the profits from Freeport- McMoRan's massive Grasberg mine in remote Papua province was motivated by concern for Papuan residents rather a bid to boost desperately-needed government revenues.
"This is for the sake of Papuan people, because 70% of profit sharing (from Freeport-McMoRan's operations) will be given to the Papuan people," he said, without elaborating. A Freeport-McMoRan spokesperson could not immediately be reached for comment.
Kalla said the government would seek to review the contracts of large foreign investment projects, including Freeport-McMoRan's Grasberg, every five years, without elaborating.
Copper and gold prices on the world market hit record highs earlier this month as fund managers entered the market en masse as a result of strong demand expectations from the Asian economic powerhouses of China and India.
Copper reached an all-time intraday high of $5,110 per metric on Feb. 7 while gold reached an 18-year high of $575 an ounce on Feb. 2. on the London Metals Exchange.
Freeport-McMoRan funneled $260 million into government coffers in the form of taxes, royalties, dividends and fees in 2004, data from the firm's annual report for that year indicates. The report says the firm's total economic benefit to Indonesia totaled $3 billion in the same period.
The Grasberg mine has produced 16.1 billion pounds of copper and 23.3 million ounces of gold net since its discovery in 1988. The mine's estimated reserves of more than 40 billion pounds of copper and 46 million ounces of gold give it " decades" of future production, the Freeport-McMoRan 2004 annual report said.
Kalla's comments are likely to reinforce foreign investors' worst fears about contract sanctity and the predictability of Indonesia's legal and regulatory environment.
Indonesia recorded a 20.6% on-year rise in approved foreign direct investment to $11.69 billion in the first eleven months of 2005, but analysts say concern over the country's judicial unpredictability remains a major deterrent to new investment inflows.
Foreign investors are already aghast at a wrangle between Indonesia's state- owned Petroleum firm Pertamina (PTM.YY) and U.S. oil giant Exxon Mobil Mobil Corp. (XOM) that's preventing the signing of a joint-operations contract for the massive Cepu oil block in East Java province.
The two companies are deadlocked over Pertamina's demand that it be Cepu's sole operator for the first five years of the block's 30-year contract. Exxon Mobil says the demand violates a memorandum of understanding the two companies signed in June 2005.
Kalla's comments coincide with heightening official scrutiny of alleged illegal payments by Freeport-McMoRan to military officers on Papua. Freeport-McMoRan said late Wednesday that it will fully cooperate with government investigations into its Grasberg operations in Papua province.
Indonesia's Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Purnomo Yusgiantoro, said Wednesday that the government will "very soon" form a special interdepartmental investigative team to probe complaints about Freeport- McMoRan's Papua operations.
That probe is part of the widening fallout from a December New York Times report that Freeport-McMoRan allegedly made payments of nearly $20 million to military and police officials posted around Grasberg from 1998 to 2004.
Similar allegations were also made by London-based environmental watchdog Global Witness' "Paying for Protection" report in July 2005.
The allegations prompted Indonesia's defense minister last month to call for a probe of Freeport-McMoRan's military payments and for the issuance of specific guidelines for private firms that need the Indonesian military to provide security in remote areas.
In January, the allegations prompted the comptroller of New York City, representing shareholders of city pension funds, to ask both the U.S. Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission to probe the legality of Freeport's financial support for security forces in Papua.
Freeport-McMoRan has said it gave "financial support" to Indonesian security officials in Papua for items including infrastructure and logistics, according to a letter signed by the company's Chief Executive Richard Adkerson, posted on the company Web site on Jan. ll.
The company's vice president of communications, William L. Collier III, last week declined a Dow Jones Newswires request for clarification on the payments, saying he wouldn't comment beyond the company's public disclosure.
Source:
Jakarta Bureau; Dow Jones Newswire
"Prices of gold and nickel are currently high, (and) based on this, profit sharing should be increased by two-to-three times from the previous figures," Kalla told reporters, without elaborating on the terms of the government's current profit sharing deal.
Kalla said his desire to gain a bigger slice of the profits from Freeport- McMoRan's massive Grasberg mine in remote Papua province was motivated by concern for Papuan residents rather a bid to boost desperately-needed government revenues.
"This is for the sake of Papuan people, because 70% of profit sharing (from Freeport-McMoRan's operations) will be given to the Papuan people," he said, without elaborating. A Freeport-McMoRan spokesperson could not immediately be reached for comment.
Kalla said the government would seek to review the contracts of large foreign investment projects, including Freeport-McMoRan's Grasberg, every five years, without elaborating.
Copper and gold prices on the world market hit record highs earlier this month as fund managers entered the market en masse as a result of strong demand expectations from the Asian economic powerhouses of China and India.
Copper reached an all-time intraday high of $5,110 per metric on Feb. 7 while gold reached an 18-year high of $575 an ounce on Feb. 2. on the London Metals Exchange.
Freeport-McMoRan funneled $260 million into government coffers in the form of taxes, royalties, dividends and fees in 2004, data from the firm's annual report for that year indicates. The report says the firm's total economic benefit to Indonesia totaled $3 billion in the same period.
The Grasberg mine has produced 16.1 billion pounds of copper and 23.3 million ounces of gold net since its discovery in 1988. The mine's estimated reserves of more than 40 billion pounds of copper and 46 million ounces of gold give it " decades" of future production, the Freeport-McMoRan 2004 annual report said.
Kalla's comments are likely to reinforce foreign investors' worst fears about contract sanctity and the predictability of Indonesia's legal and regulatory environment.
Indonesia recorded a 20.6% on-year rise in approved foreign direct investment to $11.69 billion in the first eleven months of 2005, but analysts say concern over the country's judicial unpredictability remains a major deterrent to new investment inflows.
Foreign investors are already aghast at a wrangle between Indonesia's state- owned Petroleum firm Pertamina (PTM.YY) and U.S. oil giant Exxon Mobil Mobil Corp. (XOM) that's preventing the signing of a joint-operations contract for the massive Cepu oil block in East Java province.
The two companies are deadlocked over Pertamina's demand that it be Cepu's sole operator for the first five years of the block's 30-year contract. Exxon Mobil says the demand violates a memorandum of understanding the two companies signed in June 2005.
Kalla's comments coincide with heightening official scrutiny of alleged illegal payments by Freeport-McMoRan to military officers on Papua. Freeport-McMoRan said late Wednesday that it will fully cooperate with government investigations into its Grasberg operations in Papua province.
Indonesia's Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Purnomo Yusgiantoro, said Wednesday that the government will "very soon" form a special interdepartmental investigative team to probe complaints about Freeport- McMoRan's Papua operations.
That probe is part of the widening fallout from a December New York Times report that Freeport-McMoRan allegedly made payments of nearly $20 million to military and police officials posted around Grasberg from 1998 to 2004.
Similar allegations were also made by London-based environmental watchdog Global Witness' "Paying for Protection" report in July 2005.
The allegations prompted Indonesia's defense minister last month to call for a probe of Freeport-McMoRan's military payments and for the issuance of specific guidelines for private firms that need the Indonesian military to provide security in remote areas.
In January, the allegations prompted the comptroller of New York City, representing shareholders of city pension funds, to ask both the U.S. Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission to probe the legality of Freeport's financial support for security forces in Papua.
Freeport-McMoRan has said it gave "financial support" to Indonesian security officials in Papua for items including infrastructure and logistics, according to a letter signed by the company's Chief Executive Richard Adkerson, posted on the company Web site on Jan. ll.
The company's vice president of communications, William L. Collier III, last week declined a Dow Jones Newswires request for clarification on the payments, saying he wouldn't comment beyond the company's public disclosure.
Source:
Jakarta Bureau; Dow Jones Newswire
Indonesia Police Arrest Suspected Militant
JAKARTA, Indonesia — An Islamic teacher suspected of involvement in a Southeast Asian terrorist network has been detained in central Indonesia, police said Saturday.
Brig. Gen. Bambang Suwedi said the suspect, identified only as Sahal, was arrested Thursday morning in the town of Poso in Central Sulawesi province.
Suwedi said police had acted on reports the teacher had ties to Malaysian fugitive Noordin Top, an operative with the al-Qaida-linked Jemaah Islamiah group.
"He (Sahal) was questioned by the anti-terror unit in Jakarta," Suwedi said, adding that police could hold Sahal for a week before formally declaring him a suspect.
Jemaah Islamiah has been blamed for a string of bombings since 2000 that have left over 245 dead, many of them foreigners. The group wants to establish an Islamic state spanning Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and the southern Philippines.
Ninety percent of Indonesia's 210 million people are Muslim, and most people practice a moderate form of the faith. But attacks against Christians have increased in recent years amid a global rise in Islamic radicalism.
Almost half of Sulawesi's population is Christian. The province was the scene of fierce battles between Muslims and Christians in 2001 and 2002 that killed about 1,000 people, and despite a peace deal, violence against Christians has continued.
Source:
The Associated Press
Brig. Gen. Bambang Suwedi said the suspect, identified only as Sahal, was arrested Thursday morning in the town of Poso in Central Sulawesi province.
Suwedi said police had acted on reports the teacher had ties to Malaysian fugitive Noordin Top, an operative with the al-Qaida-linked Jemaah Islamiah group.
"He (Sahal) was questioned by the anti-terror unit in Jakarta," Suwedi said, adding that police could hold Sahal for a week before formally declaring him a suspect.
Jemaah Islamiah has been blamed for a string of bombings since 2000 that have left over 245 dead, many of them foreigners. The group wants to establish an Islamic state spanning Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and the southern Philippines.
Ninety percent of Indonesia's 210 million people are Muslim, and most people practice a moderate form of the faith. But attacks against Christians have increased in recent years amid a global rise in Islamic radicalism.
Almost half of Sulawesi's population is Christian. The province was the scene of fierce battles between Muslims and Christians in 2001 and 2002 that killed about 1,000 people, and despite a peace deal, violence against Christians has continued.
Source:
The Associated Press
Ministry of Finance Ready to Accommodate Return of BLBI Funds
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati has said that her office is ready to accommodate the return of Bank Indonesia Liquidity Support (BLBI) funds, but the office is now still arranging a mechanism of this purpose."Later at the ministry of finance," she told reporters when asked whether a special bank account will be provided for payment of the debts.
Coordinating Minister of Economy Affairs Boediono, National Police chief Gen Sutanto and Attorney General Abdurrahman Saleh also attended the meeting.On Monday, three debtors James Januar, Ulung Bursa and Omar Putirai came to the presidential office to express readiness to return the BLBI funds amounting to Rp170 billion.
According to National Police chief, Gen. Sutanto, they came to the state palace to follow the steps of Bank Bira`s commissioner Atang Latief who has earlier expressed readiness to return the BLBI funds to the government.
The government provided BLBI funds totaling Rp144.5 trillion from August 1998 to early 1999 to assist 48 ailing private banks. However, in May 1999, a Supreme Audit Agency report revealed that 95 percent of the troubled banks had misappropriated the funds.
The debtors who have surrendered themselves may not have to undergo a legal process, because according to law enforcers there is no indication they have violated the law although they have yet to secure a document stating they had paid their debts (SKL). Based on reports, the Police Chief said, the debtors actually wanted to return their debts through the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) which was already liquidated.
Source:
LKBN ANTARA
Coordinating Minister of Economy Affairs Boediono, National Police chief Gen Sutanto and Attorney General Abdurrahman Saleh also attended the meeting.On Monday, three debtors James Januar, Ulung Bursa and Omar Putirai came to the presidential office to express readiness to return the BLBI funds amounting to Rp170 billion.
According to National Police chief, Gen. Sutanto, they came to the state palace to follow the steps of Bank Bira`s commissioner Atang Latief who has earlier expressed readiness to return the BLBI funds to the government.
The government provided BLBI funds totaling Rp144.5 trillion from August 1998 to early 1999 to assist 48 ailing private banks. However, in May 1999, a Supreme Audit Agency report revealed that 95 percent of the troubled banks had misappropriated the funds.
The debtors who have surrendered themselves may not have to undergo a legal process, because according to law enforcers there is no indication they have violated the law although they have yet to secure a document stating they had paid their debts (SKL). Based on reports, the Police Chief said, the debtors actually wanted to return their debts through the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) which was already liquidated.
Source:
LKBN ANTARA
Washington. The issue of lobbying
VOICE OF AMERICA NEWS-- Washington. The issue of lobbying, which is the process of trying to influence policy-makers in favor of a specific cause, has been under intense scrutiny in the United States because of a recent corruption scandal that is expected to involve lawmakers on Capitol Hill. One aspect of lobbying that has so far escaped close attention, however, is the efforts of foreign entities to affect U.S. policy.
There is bipartisan unanimity in Washington on at least one issue. According to both Republican House Majority leader Dennis Hastert and Democratic Senator Joseph Lieberman, lobbying abuse is a problem.
HASTERT: "I have been deeply disturbed by those who have broken the rules of the House and in some instances have pleaded guilty to breaking the law."
LIEBERMAN: "Now is our opportunity and really our responsibility to restore the trust of the American people in their elected government and, to the best of our ability, scrub clean the point where money, politics and government meet in America."
So far, though, most of the media attention has focused on the corrupt lobbying activities of domestic interests. But, the Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit organization that investigates public policy issues, says lobbying by foreign entities is also a problem.
"It's a very big issue," said Alex Knott, the Center's political editor. "We've found that nearly 100 countries have spent money lobbying our federal government. And, since 1998, they've spent $624 million. That's a very large amount."
Knott says the bulk of the money from foreign companies that lobby the U.S. government comes from other developed countries.
"Your top five countries are the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Germany, Japan and France," he said. "And together, they've spent $423 million lobbying the federal government since 1998."
Knott says the remaining lobby money comes from many other countries - some expected, some not.
"Well, there's definitely some countries that people often bat their eyes at [raise questions] when they see it," explained Alex Knott. "Saudi Arabia lobbies our federal government. South Africa lobbied our federal government. Countries like Vietnam lobbies our federal government. Kenya, Sri Lanka, Haiti, Pakistan."
One country that has come under scrutiny is Israel, which the Center for Public Integrity says spent more than $3.6 million to lobby the U.S. government, from 1998 to 2004. At the same time, though, there is controversy surrounding the well-known group AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which is an American organization, but spends millions of dollars to lobby exclusively on behalf of Israel.
For American citizens, the Constitution guarantees the right to lobby."It's in the First Amendment. There's a right to petition to redress grievances, and that's where lobbying comes from," said University at Buffalo finance professor Michael Rozeff.
He says he believes it is natural for foreign companies and governments to also want to lobby Washington, to promote their country's commercial interests or to try to affect U.S. policy.
One way they do this is by hiring prominent former U.S. politicians to act on their behalf. In 2004, Bob Dole, former senator and presidential candidate, lobbied on behalf of Indonesia.
"You cannot condemn that," he said. "It makes sense. If the United States has gotten involved with Taiwan, then it's natural for Mainland China to want to influence the outcome. Or if the United States has jawboned [criticized] about the value of the [Chinese currency, the] yuan - it has done more than jawboned, it has made threats about what might happen if China didn't revalue the yuan, then it's natural for them [the Chinese] to lobby. You can't stop that."
Experts are mixed as to how successful lobbyists are. Rozeff adds, though, that as the United States has become a dominant world power, foreigners have taken greater interest in trying to influence U.S. decisions on a whole range of topics, from trade to arms sales to taxation.
"The amount or extent of lobbying depends on the favors and the subsidies and the taxes and the regulations that the U.S. government can pass," said Rozeff. "And the bigger the government has got and the more activities it's gotten engaged in, the more the lobbying has done."
Rozeff says he is skeptical that any lobbying reforms ultimately passed by Congress will greatly affect foreign lobbying activities. He says the new regulations largely deal with issues like making all lobbying activities more transparent. This will make it harder to lobby, but, he adds, it won't stop people, whether Americans or foreigners, from doing it.
Source:
VOICE OF AMERICA NEWS
February 12, 2006
There is bipartisan unanimity in Washington on at least one issue. According to both Republican House Majority leader Dennis Hastert and Democratic Senator Joseph Lieberman, lobbying abuse is a problem.
HASTERT: "I have been deeply disturbed by those who have broken the rules of the House and in some instances have pleaded guilty to breaking the law."
LIEBERMAN: "Now is our opportunity and really our responsibility to restore the trust of the American people in their elected government and, to the best of our ability, scrub clean the point where money, politics and government meet in America."
So far, though, most of the media attention has focused on the corrupt lobbying activities of domestic interests. But, the Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit organization that investigates public policy issues, says lobbying by foreign entities is also a problem.
"It's a very big issue," said Alex Knott, the Center's political editor. "We've found that nearly 100 countries have spent money lobbying our federal government. And, since 1998, they've spent $624 million. That's a very large amount."
Knott says the bulk of the money from foreign companies that lobby the U.S. government comes from other developed countries.
"Your top five countries are the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Germany, Japan and France," he said. "And together, they've spent $423 million lobbying the federal government since 1998."
Knott says the remaining lobby money comes from many other countries - some expected, some not.
"Well, there's definitely some countries that people often bat their eyes at [raise questions] when they see it," explained Alex Knott. "Saudi Arabia lobbies our federal government. South Africa lobbied our federal government. Countries like Vietnam lobbies our federal government. Kenya, Sri Lanka, Haiti, Pakistan."
One country that has come under scrutiny is Israel, which the Center for Public Integrity says spent more than $3.6 million to lobby the U.S. government, from 1998 to 2004. At the same time, though, there is controversy surrounding the well-known group AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which is an American organization, but spends millions of dollars to lobby exclusively on behalf of Israel.
For American citizens, the Constitution guarantees the right to lobby."It's in the First Amendment. There's a right to petition to redress grievances, and that's where lobbying comes from," said University at Buffalo finance professor Michael Rozeff.
He says he believes it is natural for foreign companies and governments to also want to lobby Washington, to promote their country's commercial interests or to try to affect U.S. policy.
One way they do this is by hiring prominent former U.S. politicians to act on their behalf. In 2004, Bob Dole, former senator and presidential candidate, lobbied on behalf of Indonesia.
"You cannot condemn that," he said. "It makes sense. If the United States has gotten involved with Taiwan, then it's natural for Mainland China to want to influence the outcome. Or if the United States has jawboned [criticized] about the value of the [Chinese currency, the] yuan - it has done more than jawboned, it has made threats about what might happen if China didn't revalue the yuan, then it's natural for them [the Chinese] to lobby. You can't stop that."
Experts are mixed as to how successful lobbyists are. Rozeff adds, though, that as the United States has become a dominant world power, foreigners have taken greater interest in trying to influence U.S. decisions on a whole range of topics, from trade to arms sales to taxation.
"The amount or extent of lobbying depends on the favors and the subsidies and the taxes and the regulations that the U.S. government can pass," said Rozeff. "And the bigger the government has got and the more activities it's gotten engaged in, the more the lobbying has done."
Rozeff says he is skeptical that any lobbying reforms ultimately passed by Congress will greatly affect foreign lobbying activities. He says the new regulations largely deal with issues like making all lobbying activities more transparent. This will make it harder to lobby, but, he adds, it won't stop people, whether Americans or foreigners, from doing it.
Source:
VOICE OF AMERICA NEWS
February 12, 2006
Fed: South Korean man to appear in court over Bali Nine links
Australian Associated Press--BRISBANE, Feb 13 AAP - A South Korean national will appear in a Brisbane court today over alleged links to the Bali Nine drug syndicate.
"In relation to the Bali Nine, he's alleged to be an organiser," an Australian Federal Police (AFP) spokesman said last night.
The 25-year-old man, who previously lived in Brisbane, was arrested at Brisbane International Airport early yesterday after arriving on a flight from South Korea.
He was charged with conspiracy to import a trafficable quantity of narcotics into Australia between August 2004 and April 2005.
The man was remanded in custody to appear in Brisbane Magistrate's Court today, the AFP said.
He is the sixth person arrested in Australia with suspected links to the nine Australians facing jail terms or possible execution in Indonesia for allegedly trafficking heroin through Bali.
The five others charged in Australia in connection with the Bali Nine investigation are expected to next appear in Brisbane Magistrate's Court on April 3.
Source:
Australian Associated Press
February 13, 2006
"In relation to the Bali Nine, he's alleged to be an organiser," an Australian Federal Police (AFP) spokesman said last night.
The 25-year-old man, who previously lived in Brisbane, was arrested at Brisbane International Airport early yesterday after arriving on a flight from South Korea.
He was charged with conspiracy to import a trafficable quantity of narcotics into Australia between August 2004 and April 2005.
The man was remanded in custody to appear in Brisbane Magistrate's Court today, the AFP said.
He is the sixth person arrested in Australia with suspected links to the nine Australians facing jail terms or possible execution in Indonesia for allegedly trafficking heroin through Bali.
The five others charged in Australia in connection with the Bali Nine investigation are expected to next appear in Brisbane Magistrate's Court on April 3.
Source:
Australian Associated Press
February 13, 2006
PPA Hopes Govt to Set Monetary Value of 800 Properties
Bandung, W. Java (ANTARA News) - A senior Asset Management Company or PT PPA executive here Saturday called on the finance minister as the keeper of some 800 properties to officially set their monetary value within the next one or two months, so that they can be sold within the shortest possible time.
"The properties market value as determined by an independent appraiser has already been submitted to the finance minister and now we hope the minister can issue a decree on their value within the next one or two months,` Raden Pardede, PPA vice president director, said at a seminar.
As long as the minister had yet to issue a decree on the properties monetary value, PPA would not be able to meet the target of its contribution to the state budget, he said.In 2006, PPA was expected to contribute no less than Rp2.35 trillion to the state budget.
Pardede said PPA was hoping to be able to sell the 800 properties as soon as possible because the operational cost of the properties had surpassed the operational cost of other assets under the PPA management.As the settlement team of the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) had completed its task, there would be additional 3,100 assets handed over to PPA.
Pardede said, PPA had to spend Rp150 billion on operational cost of which more than 50 percent had been used to operate the assets while the properties could contribute only 20 percent of PPA`s total target contribution to the state budget.
"The rest, we obtain from shares and credit assets," Pardede said.The Director of Credit and Property assets of PPA, Rahmat Saptaman meanwhile said it would be very difficult to increase the assets value.
Source:
LKBN ANTARA
Feb 11 20:14
"The properties market value as determined by an independent appraiser has already been submitted to the finance minister and now we hope the minister can issue a decree on their value within the next one or two months,` Raden Pardede, PPA vice president director, said at a seminar.
As long as the minister had yet to issue a decree on the properties monetary value, PPA would not be able to meet the target of its contribution to the state budget, he said.In 2006, PPA was expected to contribute no less than Rp2.35 trillion to the state budget.
Pardede said PPA was hoping to be able to sell the 800 properties as soon as possible because the operational cost of the properties had surpassed the operational cost of other assets under the PPA management.As the settlement team of the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) had completed its task, there would be additional 3,100 assets handed over to PPA.
Pardede said, PPA had to spend Rp150 billion on operational cost of which more than 50 percent had been used to operate the assets while the properties could contribute only 20 percent of PPA`s total target contribution to the state budget.
"The rest, we obtain from shares and credit assets," Pardede said.The Director of Credit and Property assets of PPA, Rahmat Saptaman meanwhile said it would be very difficult to increase the assets value.
Source:
LKBN ANTARA
Feb 11 20:14
Bojonegara Can Be Developed as Int'l Port
Bojonegara, Banten (ANTARA News) - Vice President Jusuf Kalla expressed optimism that Bojonegara Port in Banten can one day be developed to become an international port as long as it has adequate area and supported by the presence of industrial estates.
"In the future, we are optimistic that Bojonegara can be developed on condition that it has adequate area with industrial estates," Kalla said after visiting Bojonegara and Cigading ports in Banten Saturday.
Kalla was accompanied by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Boediono, Industry Minister Fahmi Idris, Trade Minister Marie Pangestu, State Minister for State Enterprises Sugiharto, Head of the National Development Planning (Bappenas) Paskah Suzetta, head of the Coordinative Board on Investment (BKPM), M Lutfie, and acting Banten Governor Ratu Atut Choisiyah.
Kalla said, development of Bojonegara Port should be conducted integrally. "We consider the future development and observe (ports) in other countries.
Development of this port must be conducted integrally."Bojonegara Port construction is aimed to anticipate development in the next two years, at the time when Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta is predicted to become too crowded to accomodate economic activities.
"Industrial development has moved to west and Tanjung Priok is already crowded. If we did not build new (port) in the next two years there will be stagnation (in Tanjung Priok)," Kalla added.Previously, the Jakarta administration has planned to expand Tanjung Priok Port and change it into Jakarta New Port.Kalla said, the expansion plan of Tanjung Priok Port would go on but it would face the problem of limited area.
While Bojonegara Port is planned to be supported by development of industrial estate as well as other supporting facilities."The point is that we need new infrastructure outside Jakarta. Now we have Tanjung Priok and Cigading Ports, thus we need to build a new one," the Vice President added.A project officer of Pelindo II, Sri Rahardja said, development of Bojonegara Port is scheduled to have three phases, where for the first phase alone, it would need Rp170 billion of investment.
Meanwhile, in his visit to Cigading Port which belongs to Krakatau Steel, Kalla obtained information that Cigading is a specific port for bulk, not for containers."Because it is quite wavy here, the port is not suitable for container but only for bulk loanding and unloading," an administrator of the port, Faswar Budjang said.During 2005, Cigading Port has handled load and unload services for seven million tons of bulk goods, of which 3.6 million tons are PT Krakatau Steel`s goods and 3.4 million tons are other private companies` goods."Private companies` goods here are corn, cement, and soybean," Faswar said.
Source:
LKBN ANTARA
Feb 11 20:17
"In the future, we are optimistic that Bojonegara can be developed on condition that it has adequate area with industrial estates," Kalla said after visiting Bojonegara and Cigading ports in Banten Saturday.
Kalla was accompanied by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Boediono, Industry Minister Fahmi Idris, Trade Minister Marie Pangestu, State Minister for State Enterprises Sugiharto, Head of the National Development Planning (Bappenas) Paskah Suzetta, head of the Coordinative Board on Investment (BKPM), M Lutfie, and acting Banten Governor Ratu Atut Choisiyah.
Kalla said, development of Bojonegara Port should be conducted integrally. "We consider the future development and observe (ports) in other countries.
Development of this port must be conducted integrally."Bojonegara Port construction is aimed to anticipate development in the next two years, at the time when Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta is predicted to become too crowded to accomodate economic activities.
"Industrial development has moved to west and Tanjung Priok is already crowded. If we did not build new (port) in the next two years there will be stagnation (in Tanjung Priok)," Kalla added.Previously, the Jakarta administration has planned to expand Tanjung Priok Port and change it into Jakarta New Port.Kalla said, the expansion plan of Tanjung Priok Port would go on but it would face the problem of limited area.
While Bojonegara Port is planned to be supported by development of industrial estate as well as other supporting facilities."The point is that we need new infrastructure outside Jakarta. Now we have Tanjung Priok and Cigading Ports, thus we need to build a new one," the Vice President added.A project officer of Pelindo II, Sri Rahardja said, development of Bojonegara Port is scheduled to have three phases, where for the first phase alone, it would need Rp170 billion of investment.
Meanwhile, in his visit to Cigading Port which belongs to Krakatau Steel, Kalla obtained information that Cigading is a specific port for bulk, not for containers."Because it is quite wavy here, the port is not suitable for container but only for bulk loanding and unloading," an administrator of the port, Faswar Budjang said.During 2005, Cigading Port has handled load and unload services for seven million tons of bulk goods, of which 3.6 million tons are PT Krakatau Steel`s goods and 3.4 million tons are other private companies` goods."Private companies` goods here are corn, cement, and soybean," Faswar said.
Source:
LKBN ANTARA
Feb 11 20:17
Govt to Transer Rp60 Trillion from BI to National Banks
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The government will in several stages deposit some Rp60 trillion of its monetary assets currently kept in a Bank Indonesia or central bank account with private or state-owned banks, a senior Finance Ministry official said here Saturday.
In the first stage at least Rp10 trillion will be transferred to national banks, Director General for Treasury Affairs at the Finance Ministry Mulia Nasution said.
Mulia said at present the government had Rp80 trillion in monetary assets. Of the amount, Rp60 trillion was deposited with Bank Indonesia in a state of iddle accout."The meaning of `iddle` account was that the BI never provids any interest to the government`s deposit in that central bank," he said.
According to him, by depositing the government`s fund amounting to Rp10 trillion in national banks, the government will be able to get an interest of about Rp1 trillion (on the basis of prevailing interest level offered by the banks).
After being deducted with various banking services, the government will receive at least additional interest of about Rp600 billion which will pose a non tax income to the state.
By depositing government`s fund in national banks, he added, it will, however, benefit the government in addition to help the banks receiving the fund in increasing the channel of credits to the community.
Asked when a Rp10 trillion fund will be tranferred to national banks, Mulia said at present his side is still waiting for the completion of government`s regulation on the management of the fund.
"We hope that it will be immediately issued, as anything relating to its regulation is already available," he said.
Touching on the criteria of national banks which will be appointed by the government, Mulia revealed that the government will have to take into account the bank`s infrastructure, services, speed and benefits the bank can provide to the state.
"Certainly the banks concerned should provide such a proposal to the government and then through a socalled beauty contest, the government will be able to appoint one or two banks," he added.
Source:
LKBN ANTARA
Feb 11 20:22
In the first stage at least Rp10 trillion will be transferred to national banks, Director General for Treasury Affairs at the Finance Ministry Mulia Nasution said.
Mulia said at present the government had Rp80 trillion in monetary assets. Of the amount, Rp60 trillion was deposited with Bank Indonesia in a state of iddle accout."The meaning of `iddle` account was that the BI never provids any interest to the government`s deposit in that central bank," he said.
According to him, by depositing the government`s fund amounting to Rp10 trillion in national banks, the government will be able to get an interest of about Rp1 trillion (on the basis of prevailing interest level offered by the banks).
After being deducted with various banking services, the government will receive at least additional interest of about Rp600 billion which will pose a non tax income to the state.
By depositing government`s fund in national banks, he added, it will, however, benefit the government in addition to help the banks receiving the fund in increasing the channel of credits to the community.
Asked when a Rp10 trillion fund will be tranferred to national banks, Mulia said at present his side is still waiting for the completion of government`s regulation on the management of the fund.
"We hope that it will be immediately issued, as anything relating to its regulation is already available," he said.
Touching on the criteria of national banks which will be appointed by the government, Mulia revealed that the government will have to take into account the bank`s infrastructure, services, speed and benefits the bank can provide to the state.
"Certainly the banks concerned should provide such a proposal to the government and then through a socalled beauty contest, the government will be able to appoint one or two banks," he added.
Source:
LKBN ANTARA
Feb 11 20:22
Johor to Explore Investment Prospects in Aceh
Banda Aceh (ANTARA News) - The Malaysian state Of Johor will explore investment prospects in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam province after the Indonesian government and the Free Aceh Movement reached a peace deal in the province, a Malaysian official said."We are happy Aceh is now peaceful. We will explore investment prospects here because Aceh has many potentials," Dato H Abdul Ghani Othman, chief minister of Johor, said in Aceh Besar on Sunday.
Othman and his entourage, accompanied by acting governor of NAD Mustafa Abubakar were in the province to inaugurate an orphanage dormitory for tsunami survivors in Ajuen Jeumput village, Aceh Besar district.Oil palm plantation and fishery sectors can attract investors from Johor, he added."These sectors have good prospects in the future to build Aceh in the aftermath of the tsunami. Moreover, its security situation is now conducive," the chief minister said.
Source:
LKBN ANTARA
Feb 12 22:55
Othman and his entourage, accompanied by acting governor of NAD Mustafa Abubakar were in the province to inaugurate an orphanage dormitory for tsunami survivors in Ajuen Jeumput village, Aceh Besar district.Oil palm plantation and fishery sectors can attract investors from Johor, he added."These sectors have good prospects in the future to build Aceh in the aftermath of the tsunami. Moreover, its security situation is now conducive," the chief minister said.
Source:
LKBN ANTARA
Feb 12 22:55
Huawei Wins WCDMA Order in Indonesia
SHENZHEN, February 13, SinoCast -- Shenzhen-headed Huawei Technologies, a leading telecom equipment vendor in the world, announces it wins a WCDMA order from Natrindo Telepon Selular (NTS), a mobile telecom carrier in Indonesia, to be the main contractor of the latter's 2G and 3G network.
According to their contract, Huawei will exclusively be in charge of construction of the soft switch core network, smart service platform, and IP backbone network of a nationwide telecom network that combines 2G and 3G equipment and technologies. The 2G and 3G base station system supplied by Huawei will continuously cover all lands of Indonesia except Jakarta, the country's capital.
NTS is a 51:49 joint venture established by Malaysian Maxis Communications and Indonesian Lippo Group. The company is an emerging telecom carrier holding GSM1800 and WCDMA licenses.
Source:
SINOCAST CHINA BUSINESS DAILY NEWS
February 13, 2006
According to their contract, Huawei will exclusively be in charge of construction of the soft switch core network, smart service platform, and IP backbone network of a nationwide telecom network that combines 2G and 3G equipment and technologies. The 2G and 3G base station system supplied by Huawei will continuously cover all lands of Indonesia except Jakarta, the country's capital.
NTS is a 51:49 joint venture established by Malaysian Maxis Communications and Indonesian Lippo Group. The company is an emerging telecom carrier holding GSM1800 and WCDMA licenses.
Source:
SINOCAST CHINA BUSINESS DAILY NEWS
February 13, 2006
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