Enron Linked to Corruption in Clinton White House
Energy Giant Had Deal With Suharto's Son
Sought NATO Membership for Croatia
The ongoing investigation into the failure of Enron has led directly to the corrupt Clinton administration. One such Enron deal pushed by the Clinton White House was an exclusive power plant project with the son of Indonesian dictator Suharto, Bambang Trihatmodjo.
Bambang is Suharto's second son and at one point he was worth over $3 billion. The 48-year-old Bambang also owns an $8 million penthouse in Singapore and a $12 million mansion in an exclusive neighborhood of Los Angeles, two doors down from rock star Rod Stewart.
Starting in 1994, Enron invested $25 million into a deal for the first natural gas-fired power plant in Pasuruan, East Java. According to Commerce Department documents, Enron's partner in the planned $525 million project was Bambang Trihatmodjo.
Despite the clear evidence of Suharto corruption, Ron Brown personally sought approval for the Enron electric power plant. According to a personal letter directed to the Indonesian minister for trade and industry, Brown endorsed Enron deals for two gas-fired power plants with the corrupt Suharto regime.
"Enron power, a world renowned private power developer, is in the final stages of negotiating two combined cycle, gas turbine power projects," wrote Brown in his 1995 letter.
"The first, a 500 MW plant in East Java, should begin commercial power generation by the end of 1997 if it can promptly negotiate a gas supply Memorandum of Understanding with Pertamina. The other project, a smaller plant in East Kalimantan, also awaits a gas supply agreement.
"I urge you to give full consideration to the proposals," concluded Brown to the Indonesian minister.
In October 1995, Brown wrote another letter, this time to Hartarto Sastrosurarto, Indonesia's coordinating minister for trade and industry, pressing him to conclude Enron's power plant deal.
"I would like to bring to your attention a number of projects involving American companies which seem to be stalled, including several independent power projects.
"These projects include the Tarahan power project, which involves Southern Electric; the gas powered projects in East Java and East Kalimantan, which involves Enron," wrote Brown.
"Your support for prompt resolution of the remaining issues associated with each of these projects would be most appreciated," concluded Brown.
By September 1997, Enron announced the Indonesian power deal was nearly complete. According to Enron, it had signed an agreement to acquire natural gas for its 500-megawatt power plant under development in East Java Indonesia. The 20-year supply agreement was signed with Pertamina, Indonesia's state-owned oil and gas company.
"This is one of the last critical steps before the East Java project can achieve financial close and commence construction," said Rebecca P. Mark, chairman and CEO of Enron International.
"We expect the power plant to be operational in early 2000," said Mark.
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