Pertamina Claims Fuel Supply Unaffected by Pipeline Explosion

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - State-owned oil and gas company Pertamina has assured that Jakarta will not experience fuel shortages after the explosion hit one of its' distribution pipeline in Subang Regency, West Java.

"There will be no disruption to Solar and Premium distribution in Jakarta despite the explosion which has damaged one of our main distribution pipelines in Subang Regency, because we have enough emergency reserves to meet customer demands for 10 days," said the assistant manager of external relations for Pertamina, Mila Suciyani on Thursday, AUgust 28, 2014.

Mila also said that Jakarta's fuel supply will remain unaffected as the damaged pipelines can be avoided completely by using tankers to send the fuel from Balongan towards Jakarta via sea. Furthermore, the repair works are scheduled to be finished in two days, which mean thats the pipelines will be operational before the emergency reserves are depleted.

Pertamina has promised to pay for the medical fees of those injured by the blast, while those the families of those who did not survive will be compensated accordingly.

Security surrounding the explosion site has been tightened amidst suspicions that the explosion happened as a result of a botched fuel theft attempt.

ANTARANEWS