Indonesia confirms Widyawati as Pertamina CEO

Challenges ahead: An attendant prepares to refuel a motorcycle at a PT Pertamina Persero gas station in Jakarta. Indonesia aims to reduce import bill by improving its ageing domestic refineries, but some projects have been delayed because of financing issues. — Bloomberg

JAKARTA: Indonesia’s government has confirmed Nicke Widyawati as the permanent chief executive of Pertamina and picked a new upstream director amid pressure on the state-owned energy firm to curb imports, boost refining capacity and biodiesel use.

Widyawati became the acting chief executive officer in April after Elia Massa Manik was fired after repeated clashes with the government over fuel price controls, criticism over his handling of an oil spill and for failing to meet mandates on fuel sales.