Jakarta blocks extension for ExxonMobil chief

By AMANDA BATTERSBY Singapore

 10 January 2013 23:59 GMT

ExxonMobil Indonesia president and general manager Richard Owen has had his appointment renewal request quashed, sparking controversy that Indonesia’s temporary upstream regulator SKSPMigas had pushed for his removal.

“We did ask the firm to offer a new name to become their leader as Owen’s tenure is coming to an end in January,” said Indonesia’s Energy & Mineral Resources Minister Jero Wacik. “We felt that the current director lacks a sense of co-operation with the government.”

The US supermajor had sought an extension for Owen, whose existing one-year placement approved by the government is about to expire.

Media speculation has been rife, alleging that the government was unhappy that the company did not follow through on earlier announced plans to farm-out some…

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