Despite of their busy schedule as journalist, fourteen of them took their time to participate journalism workshop on governance of oil and gas sector held on 15-17 June 2015 in Bogor. This agenda was triggered by public debate on oil and gas bill in media, considering the bill was placed among the priority in PROLEGNAS 2015.
The workshop was organized by Natural Resources Governance Institute (NRGI) along with PWYP Indonesia and Bojonegoro Institute.Given the importance of media’s role in overseeing the process of law revision, the workshop targeted journalist as the audiences and specifically aimed to improve their understanding on accountability and governance of oil and gas. Because as an actor who is responsible to convey the information to public, journalist often faced critical challenge, such as closed access on information and limited capacity on technical matters on oil and gas sector.
Communication and Outreach Manager of PWYP Indonesia, Agung Budiono explained, “The workshop will be divided in two process, focus group discussion and workshop. It aims to reveal the reporting process on oil and gas issue and its obstacle”.
One of participants Ririn Wedia from Suara Banyuurip, local media in Bojonegoro District, said that her obstacle in reporting oil and gas issue were the lack of transparency from stakeholder. In Block Cepu, Bojonegoro, we faced the lack of transparency of operator on CSR fund, difficulty of getting clarification from operator whether work accidents happened, and the limited access of information on oil and gas industry. Additionally, we also faced lack of transparency from local government owned enterprise (BUMD), PT. Asri Dharma Sejahtera in managing participating interest.”
This workshop also invited Harry Surjadi, founder of Society Indonesian Environmental Journalist, as facilitator. Harry delivered the guide for journalist, “We should creatively express the actual fact, not the fiction. The reporting at least consists of informed participation or public participation in decision making of oil and gas”, he added.
On the second day, Satya Yudha, member of parliament in Commission VII, presented the important aspect on oil and gas law revision, including the energy security and state’s sovereignty. “Public participation has begun since the academic paper making process and draft revision in 2009-2014 became reference for current oil and gas draft.” said Satya.
Jalal, activist in Lingkar Studi CSR, said the importance of social and environmental aspects in revision of oil and gas law. “Oil and gas company still assume the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in ‘what the benefit for the company’ context. CSR’s seen as a tool to mitigate conflict so that the company can operate smoothly, their image will be nicely built and it will be beneficial for them financially,”said Jalal. “The new oil and gas law should cover the environmental, health and safety, social and economic aspects”, he added.