Tangerang, Banten, May 20 -- Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Minister Bahlil Lahadalia stated that the upstream oil and gas sector is exempt from the Government Regulation concerning the Management of Natural Resource Commodity Exports.

The regulation, announced earlier by President Prabowo Subianto, requires state-owned enterprises (SOEs) to become sole exporters of several natural resource commodities, including palm oil, coal, and ferroalloys.

"Based on my knowledge, in-depth research, and objective information, the President has decided that the regulation does not apply to the upstream oil and gas sector," Bahlil stated here on Wednesday.

The exception is due to the fact that the majority of upstream oil and gas sales are inte...