Protecting a Billion-Dollar Investment
On his way to Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sudirman Said's cellular phone rang. An aide of President Joko Widodo was calling with important news. That very morning, on Tuesday two weeks ago, the President summoned Sudirman to the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta. Sudirman cancelled his flight without even knowing what they would discuss.
Upon arriving at the Palace, Sudirman headed straight to Jokowi's office. "Sudirman was surprised to see Jim Bob there," said one energy and mineral resources ministry official with knowledge of the meeting last Tuesday. Jim Bob, of course, is the nickname of James R. Moffett, chairman of Freeport-McMoRan, the parent company of Freeport Indonesia. The energy ministry official said Moffett had arrived at the Palace in the morning. Flying in on a private jet, he arrived at Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport at 7:30am.
October 20, 2015
On his way to Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sudirman Said's cellular phone rang. An aide of President Joko Widodo was calling with important news. That very morning, on Tuesday two weeks ago, the President summoned Sudirman to the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta. Sudirman cancelled his flight without even knowing what they would discuss.
Upon arriving at the Palace, Sudirman headed straight to Jokowi's office. "Sudirman
...