"As our frankness, on May 18 we have sent a letter after the sales and purchase agreement had been completed. Now it is already June, but the energy and mineral resources had not yet issued a note," he told a press conference here Tuesday night.
The finance minister explained that in the divestment process those who have reached agreement is the government investment center and Newmont, while the energy and mineral resources minister remains the regulator.
He hoped the note would soon be issued, because the government would then be able to immediately pay seven percent of the shares worth 246.8 million US dollars.
In addition, the finance minister said the note is also needed as a confirmation report to the Investment Coordinating Agency (BKPM).
"I don`t wish to give more comments, but the energy and mineral resources minister needs to give a better response so that investment in Indonesia would be better," he said.
On May 6 the government by way of the government investment center PIP) and the Nusa Tenggara Partnership BV (NTP BV) signed an agreement on the sales and purchase of seven percent divestment share of PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara (NNT) for 2010.
The government hoped the divestment process would enable the company engaged in the extractive field to carry out the principles of sound company management and meeting its obligations and give the best of added value for Indonesia.
Previously, Newmont`s share divestment of 24 percent for the 2006-2009 period had already been carried out by the regional administration by way of PT Multi Daerah Bersaing (PT. MDB), namely the joint venture between PT. Daerah Maju Bersaing (BUMD of the NTB provincial administration, the West Sumbawa regency administration, and Sumbawa regency administration), while the other 20 pct of national share is already in possession by way of share ownership of PT Pukuafu.(*)
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
