VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The national upstream oil and gas industry is exerting efforts to address issues related to human resources limitations due to ageing workers, according to the Upstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Special Task Force (SKK Migas).

"Some 22 percent of employees (in the sector) will retire within seven years," SKK Migas Head Dwi Soetjipto stated during the 12th Indonesian Human Resources Summit (IHRS) in Badung, Bali, Tuesday.

The issue exists due to the reduction in recruitment of fresh graduates since 2015 amid the decline in oil prices and general conditions of the industry at that time, which is causal to the ensuing lack of employee regeneration, he explained.

The issue poses another challenge to the industry exploration efforts due to limited number of G&G (geology and geophysics) core talent and lack of competitive salary as compared to other countries, the agency head remarked.

Soetjipto then urged industry actors to recruit employees annually to close the human resources gap due to retiring employees.

He also urged younger employees in the industry to increase their competencies promptly.

"They (younger employees) must be given challenges and new duties. Therefore, I hope (contractors of cooperation contract) colleagues can delegate duties on-site because that is the fastest way (for them) to gain mastery in technology," the SKK Migas head remarked.

Meanwhile, SKK Migas' Human Resources Division Head Hudi Suryodipuro stated that Indonesian regions have huge potential to supply employees, with appropriate competency, to work in the industry.

Some contractors of cooperation contracts have employed and trained local residents through apprentice programs by emulating methods employed at the British oil and gas company BP plc., he noted.

"Some contractors of cooperation contract in East Java have begun adopting the method. We are currently also monitoring employees of local origin and the level of domestic component," Suryodipuro remarked. (Antaranews)