Five countries eying South Sumatra geothermal resources

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Wed, 03/30/2011 9:46 PM | Business

Investors from five countries have shown interest in the natural gas resource of South Sumatra. The province reportedly has the potential to generate up to 1,911 mega watts of electricity from six different areas containing geothermal energy.

South Sumatra Investment Agency chief Permana said that the five countries were Turkey, India, the US, Canada and Italy. At least three energy companies have undergone the tender process for the utilization of South Sumatra geothermal energy.

“We will accept [the company] that offers the best and highest offer,” he added on Wednesday.

According to Permana, natural gas resources are just one of a number of local resources on offer to foreign investors, adding that they possess the skills and resources to process natural gas.

The natural gas, however, must still be sold to state electricity utility PLN to fulfill the local need for energy, Permana said, as reported by kompas.com.

Minister asked to appoint acting mayor for South Tangerang

Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang | Thu, 01/13/2011 10:20 PM | Archipelago

South Tangerang residents have asked Home Minister Gamawan Fauzi to directly appoint an official from the ministry office to replace acting mayor Eutik Suarta, an official at the Banten provincial administration, who will vacate his post on Jan. 24.

“We proposed this to the minister as part of efforts to maintain neutrality in the mayoral election re-run,” former chairman of the South Tangerang Formation Presidium Zarkasih Noor said in a discussion Thursday.

He said he had sent a letter requesting the minister to select a substitute for the acting mayor from the ministry office.

“We want the mayoral election re-run to go smoothly and honestly,” he said.

Agil Novebrianto, a student activist, concurred.

He said it had been proven that the current acting mayor Eutik Suarta failed to show his neutrality in the election process.

The recent South Tangerang election result was annulled by the Constitution Court, which then ordered a re-run next month.

South Korean film director makes movie on iPhone

The Associated Press, Seoul, South Korea | Mon, 01/10/2011 8:24 PM | Entertainment

Acclaimed South Korean film director Park Chan-wook has discovered a new cinematic tool: the iPhone.

The director of South Korean movies "Old Boy," "Lady Vengeance" and "Thirst," said Monday that his new fantasy-horror film "Paranmanjang" was shot entirely on Apple Inc.'s iconic smartphone.

"Paranmanjang" means a "life full of ups and downs" in Korean. It is about a man transcending his current and former lives.

Park told reporters the new technology created strange effects because it is new but also a medium the audience is used to.

Park made the 30-minute film with his younger brother Park Chan-kyong, also a director.