Indonesia to Simplify Oil, Gas License Process

Indonesia is planning to reduce the number of permits that investors must obtain to conduct activity in upstream of oil and gas sector, Xinhua reported.

Deputy Minister for Energy and Mineral Resources Susilo Siswoutomo said that by next week the government would have delineated the licencing process and ordered relevant authorities to revoke unnecessary licenses without weakening their control function. As many as 284 permits are required for investors to engage in the country's upstream oil and gas industry, he said.

"Yesterday I led a meeting at the (energy) ministry. We must simplify these licenses," said Susilo.

Indonesia is looking to raise oil and gas output by attracting more foreign players into the sector.