Aditya Wisnuwardana Seky “David” Soeryadjaya is interrupted during his interview with The Edge Singapore by an urgent phone call. Back moments later, the CEO of Ramba Energy appears even more cheerful. The long-awaited Indonesian cabinet reshuffle is done and energy minister Sudirman Said is staying put. “Continuity is always good,” says Soeryadjaya, as he gets back to discussing Ramba’s future.

On Aug 10, the Indonesia-based oil explorer announced that it had finally received the socalled Plan of Development from the Indonesian authorities, which allows it to start production at what is currently its richest field. Ramba had put in its application for the POD in February 2014, but approval wasn’t granted until almost 1½ years later because of a change in government in Indonesia.

Last October, President Joko Widodo took office and introduced several changes in the line-up of ministers. Former energy minister Jero Wacik had stepped down in September 2014 on corruption allegations. Sudirman, the current minister, assumed office in October. “It took months for things to settle down and the engine to start moving. We were caught in the transition,” says Soeryadjaya.

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