Jokowi to focus on fisheries, energy development in Natuna
Chinese coast guard ship 3303 passes near the Imam Bonjol warship 383 as the Indonesian Navy pursues the Han Tan Cou fishing vessel entering Indonesia's Natuna waters on June 17. The Navy caught the China-flagged vessel suspected of illegal fishing in Indonesian waters.(Antara/Photo Courtesy of The Navy's Western Region Fleet Command (Koarmabar))
President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo instructed his Cabinet ministers to develop the fisheries and energy sectors in the Natuna, Riau Islands, during a limited meeting held on board the Imam Bonjol warship in the area on Thursday, in a bold move to convey Indonesia's sovereignty to the international community in recent light of fishing spats in the region with China.
"Aside from economic developments in the fields of fisheries as well as oil and gas, the Indonesian Military (TNI) commander also conveyed plans to develop the defense infrastructure in Natuna and its surrounding area," Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said in a statement.
Retno said Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti confirmed in the meeting plans for integrated marine and fisheries-centered development in the area. In recent months, a string of incidents involving Chinese fishing boats have led to the detainment of a number of Chinese nationals, whom the government claim were fishing in their “traditional fishing zone”. Indonesia has rejected such claims, saying that they were encroaching on Indonesia's exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
In the field of energy, Retno said Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sudirman Said confirmed that from the 16 oil and gas blocks surrounding the Natuna Islands, five blocks were running production while 11 others were in the exploration stage.
Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan, who was also present at the press conference, responded to questions from reporters regarding power supplies.
"The minister said gas was being diverted to Pemping Island and would provide electricity supply of approximately 50 megawatts," Luhut said.
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Jokowi marks RI’s turf
Ina Parlina and Fadli | The Jakarta Post | Natuna, Riau Islands/Batam
Fri, June 24 2016 | 07:58 am
On the frontline: President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo (center), accompanied by Navy chief of staff Adm. Ade Supandi (left) and other senior officials, inspects the warship KRI Imam Bonjol 383 after a Cabinet meeting onboard in the Natuna waters, Riau Islands, on Thursday. Of late, Chinese fishing vessels have several times encroached into Indonesia’s Natuna waters to catch fish illegally.(Courtesy Setpres/Krishadiyanto)
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo made his first visit to Natuna, Riau Islands, on Thursday, aboard a warship in a robust display of Jakarta’s sovereignty over the territory.
On board the Navy’s KRI Imam Bonjol, Jokowi, who has been looking to shift the nation from its Java-centric development agenda to a more inclusive development program, brought his focus to bear on developing the region, which is rich in fisheries and natural resources.
Such development of Natuna Islands will be essential not only to ensure local people’s welfare, but also to prevent other countries from enforcing any claim over Indonesia’s vast maritime territory, as Jakarta remains adamant that there is no dispute over its claims in the South China Sea.
Border regions, such as Natuna, which is located about 550 kilometers northeast of Batam Island, have long been neglected. In 2002, Indonesia lost its case against Malaysia over Sipadan and Ligitan — two small islands off East Kalimantan — as a result of Kuala Lumpur’s effective occupancy of the islands, and because of Jakarta tardiness in preparing a legitimate claim.
In a rare gesture, the President on Thursday held a limited Cabinet meeting on board the Imam Bonjol in the Natuna Sea, some 30 minutes from the main Natuna island, instructing his ministers to focus on economic development, while at the same time maintaining the country’s territorial integrity.
Significantly, the Imam Bonjol recently arrested a Chinese fishing vessel operating illegally in Indonesia’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Taking place in a cabin only able to accommodate around 10 people, each minister gave their presentation to the President.
“First, the President instructed [us] to develop the economy — particularly in terms of fisheries and oil and gas — in Natuna Islands and the surrounding area,” Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi told a press conference after the meeting.
Other ministers attending the meeting were Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Pandjaitan, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sudirman Said, National Development Planning Minister Sofyan Djalil and Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo.
In the meeting, Susi discussed developing an integrated maritime and fisheries center in the area, while the government is also seeking to relocate about 6,000 fishermen from overcrowded fishing grounds around Java Island to less crowded, fish-rich waters, including those around Natuna.
“It’s better than having other people [illegal poachers] operating here,” Luhut said.
Sudirman identified around 16 oil and gas blocks in the area, of which five are already operating and 11 are still in the exploration stage.
One of the gas-rich blocks in Natuna is the East Natuna block, which has total proven reserves of 46 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of gas, making it the largest gas reserve in Asia. However, the gas field has a high CO2 level of around 71 percent, necessitating advanced technology and huge investment to develop it.
As reported earlier, the block needs between US$20 billion and $40 billion in investment. State-owned Pertamina, US-based ExxonMobil, France’s Total SA and Thailand’s PTT Exploration and Production (PTT EP) are among the oil and gas firms reportedly interested in the block.
Aside from economic development, the meeting also discussed a plan to improve national defense in Natuna and its surroundings. However, Luhut said the government was still studying the plan.
During Jokowi’s brief time on board the Imam Bonjol, the warship also took a brief tour of Indonesia’s waters surrounding Natuna’s main island.
Luhut insisted that Jokowi’s rare gesture was not aimed at showing Indonesia’s teeth to China amid the latter’s recent assertiveness in the South China Sea. “We remain friendly with China and other countries,” the top security minister said.
The Riau Islands administration praised Jokowi’s visit, calling on the President to name Natuna as a special economic zone (KEK) to boost more integrated development and attract foreign investment into the area, just like its neighboring Batam Island.
“If Natuna is managed using the same pattern implemented in Batam, we will have better development there, and investors will have more opportunities to invest,” Riau Islands administration spokesman Hery Mokhrizal said, adding that the administration had formally filed the proposal with Jokowi.
Imam Bonjol’s captain, Maj. Ali Setiandy, said Jokowi’s visit certainly boosted the morale of the Navy in maintaining the country’s sovereignty in the Natuna waters in line with the existing rule of law, including taking stern measures against illegal fishing.
“We are here and ready to carry out our duty in line with existing regulations,” he added.
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/06/24/jokowi-marks-ris-turf.html