GOVT THREATENS TO FILE LAWSUIT AGAINST EXXON

Jakarta, Jan 16 (ANTARA) - Indonesia has threatened it will file a lawsuit against ExxonMobil if it fails to return all data on Natuna Block's D Alpha development.
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro said here on Friday that under Law Number 22 of 2001 on Oil and Gas, the results of an exploration and exploitation belong to the government.
"So contractors including Exxon may be brought to justice if they fail to submit the data to the government. If Exxon is not serious, I will sue it," he said.
The minister said based on the law the contractors could be given a ten-year imprisonment and a maximum fine of Rp10 billion.
Purnomo said that data on Natuna development was not much as only four wells had been drilled and it had been done long time ago namely between 1980 and 1983.
PT Pertamina, he said, did not have reasons to say it did not have the data because the state-owned company was Exxon's partner and only four wells had so far been drilled.
The head of BP Migas (upstream oil and gas executive agency), R Priyono, said when change of ownership of Natuna occurred in 1996 Pertamina had already had the data.
The head of data and information center of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Farida Zed, said so far Exxon had only returned data on development of the four wells.
"Exxon has submitted the data but we continue communicating with Exxon to seek other data it might still keep," she said.
Regarding the possibility of Exxon seeking arbitrary, Purnomo said the government had strong basis namely the contract that automatically expired when commercial viability was non-existence.
Based on the contract, commitment to conduct field development would only be acceptable if BP Migas and contractor jointly agreed to developing economical fields upon a feasibility study.
"So, as commercial viability is non-existence the contract automatically expires on January 9, 2005," he said.
Exxon Mobil's vice director Maman Budiman said his side held that the Exxon's contract on Natuna was still effective.
He said Exxon also remained committed to develop Natuna efficiently along with Pertamina as stated in the written contract.
He said he would use its technology and experience in large-scale gas projects like Natuna.
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