Indonesians to visit

Press, 10 March 1982, Page 5

Indonesians to visit

From STUART McMfLLAN, in Jakarta Two top-level Indonesian energy officials are expected to visit New Zealand this month. Their visit is important not only for the place they occupy in Indonesia's energy developments but

also for the fact that the two regularly attend meetings of the organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries. The two are Mr Yudo Sumbono, president-director of Indonesia’s State oil company, Pertamina, and Mr Wijarso, director-general of oil, gas, and geothermal energy in the Ministry of Mines and Energy. In New Zealand the two men will have discussions on geothermal development based on New Zealand's experience with Wairakei, and on New Zealand's use of natural gas. The cost of synthetic petrol is of direct relevance to the development of further petroleum resources in Indonesia and elsewhere. During the 1980-1981 trade year New Zealand bought oil from Indonesia worth $164 million, as part of a plan to become less reliant on Middle East supplies. The link with geothermal developments comes about because of the aid project at Kamojang, near Bandung. This is the largest aid project New Zealand has undertaken, and has been worth S27M. . It was the first geothermal development in Indonesia and its expected completion this year coincides with extensive development of geothermal resources in In-

donesia as it tries to lessen its dependence on its own oil for thermal electricity plants. The New Zealand firm which has done the design and management work at Kamojang, Geothermal Energy New Zealand, Ltd, hopes to win some of the contracts for the developments. Possibly some of the geothermal development plans will be discussed while the two men are in New Zealand. An unscheduled O.P.E.C. meeting will be held this month. It is not yet clear whether this will affect the travel plans of the two.