TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Darmin Nasution said that Iran has expressed its interest to invest in the 35,000 Megawatts electricity project run by Indonesian State Electricity Company (PLN). In a meeting on Friday, November 25, 2016, Iranian Minister of Communication and Information Technology Mahmoud Vaezi inquired about the opportunity to invest in the project.

"[The Iranian] asked if there is [a chance to invest] in the 35 thousand megawatt project. People only know that it's already been given to [a number] of investors but many keep on asking 'can we invest? We'd like to invest [in the project]'," Darmin said in his office on Friday, November 25, 2016.

Darmin added that he had invited to make the investment. “We answered it explicitly. We said, 'If you’re interested, then be my guest,'" Darmin said.

In addition to investing in the electricity sector, Darmin said that Iran has already stated their interest to invest in the oil and gas sector. Mahmoud, who was accompanied by Iranian Ambassador to Indonesia, stated that the Iranian government would like to build an oil refinery in Indonesia.

ANGELINA ANJAR SAWITRI