Denpasar Sound – The Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investments, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, has rejected plans to build an LNG Terminal in Mangrove, Sidakarya, Denpasar, Bali. Luhut Pandjaitan’s rejection was due to two reasons. Interestingly, Luhut’s letter came two days after Koster refused to allow the Israeli national team to compete in Bali in the U-20 World Cup.
This was revealed in Luhut’s letter to the Minister of Environment and Forestry. This letter was also copied to President Joko Widodo, the Minister of Transportation, the Minister of BUMN, the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, the Cabinet Secretary, and the Governor of Bali.
Luhut’s letter number is B-1212/Menko/PE.01.00/III/2023 regarding the Follow-up to the Development Process of LNG Terminals and Gas Pipeline Networks by PT Dewata Clean Energy. The letter was dated March 16, 2023, or two days after Koster wrote to the Menpora, to reject the U-20 Israel National Team. It is known that Koster wrote to the Menpora on March 14, 2023.
In his letter, Luhut mentioned two reasons why he did not recommend the construction of an LNG Terminal and a gas pipeline network in the Tahura Ngurah Rai mangroves, Denpasar.
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He mentioned, in 2022 the president had launched the Outline of the Kerthi Bali Economic Roadmap Towards a Green, Resilient and Prosperous New Era.
The minister from North Sumatra mentioned two directions for Bali’s development. Namely the transition from mass tourism to quality tourism which relies on indicators of quality tourism, namely competitiveness, quality managers, unique experiences, and quality added value.
Second, the direction for the development of the Province of Bali is the transformation of the Balinese economy by developing the creative/digital economy, fisheries, agriculture and trade sectors.
Luhut stated that the two directions of development aim to strengthen Bali as a tourist destination that carries the concept of sustainable development, is environmentally sound, and upholds local nobility values.
So, said Luhut, various policies and programs at the operational level should be adjusted to the big plan.
Read also: Koster’s men still hide LNG terminal project documents overseen by bribes from the regional secretary of Buleleng
“In this regard and input from various stakeholders in the Province of Bali, we convey that the plan to build an LNG Terminal and clean gas pipeline network by PT Dewata Energi Clean should not be recommended,” Luhut wrote in the letter to the Minister of Environment and Forestry.
Just to note, residents oppose the LNG Terminal project and the pipeline network in the mangroves. Especially the residents around the project. Among them is the Intaran Traditional Village, and several environmental organizations such as Walhi.
Interestingly, this project was initiated by PT Padma Energi Indonesia, a subsidiary of PT Titis Sampurna. This company is the one who bribed the former regional secretary of Buleleng, Dewa Puspaka, worth IDR 12 billion to clear the permits for the Celukan Bawang LNG Terminal, Buleleng.
Permits handled by Dewa Puspaka were never issued. As a result of receiving Rp. 12 billion, Dewa Puspaka was sentenced to 8 years by the Denpasar Corruption Court.
His son, Dewa Radea, was also sentenced to 4 years in prison for participating in the corruption.
Meanwhile, PT Titis Sampurna and PT Padma officials have not been prosecuted until now. In fact, this company became the initiator of the LNG Terminal in Mangrove, Denpasar by cooperating with the Bali Provincial Government through Perusda Bali, and formed PT Dewata Clean Energy.
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