Oil contractors transfer restoration funds to Indonesian state

A number of oil and gas contractors have transferred Rp 2 tn ($ 166.6 mm) in restoration funds to the state on a recommendation from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said.
The contractors transferred the funds through the Oil and Gas Regulatory Body (BP Migas) at the KPK building.

Purnomo said the restoration funds were consisting of $ 45.52 mm from state-owned oil firm Pertamina EP, $ 10.89 mm from Medco E&P, $ 5.21 mm from Kondur Petroleum, $ 809.900 from Kangean Energy Indonesia and $ 448.700 from Kalrez Petroleum.
The minister said the funds were usually kept in the contractors' accounts had now been transferred to the government's account.

KPK Chairman Antasari Azhar appreciated the government and the contractors for their immediate response to the anti-graft body's recommendation. The KPK chairman said that the commission has issued the recommendation because it saw that the oil and gas sector was not managed well.
"This is proof of an effort to prevent a potential loss and to return the money to the state," Antasari said.