TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Member of the Tanah Merah subdistrict consultative body (LMK), Frengky Mardongan, stated that state-owned oil and gas firm Pertamina must take responsibility for the fire at its oil depot in Plumpang, North Jakarta. He hoped that the oil depot can be relocated soon.

“[It’s] Pertamina’s responsibility. This incident (fire) has happened twice,” said Frengky when met at the evacuation camp in Rawa Badak Selatan District, on Tuesday, March 7.

A fierce fire engulfed the Pertamina Plumpang depot on Friday night, March 3, killing 19 people and injuring 35 people residing around the site. As of March 7, 2023, the injured residents are still being treated at nine hospitals.

The victims are residents of Kampung Tanah Merah who received a temporary building permit or IMB from the former governor of Jakarta Anies Baswedan in October 2021.

Frengky said the land occupied by Kampung Tanah Merah residents is state property. This status, he informed, was strengthened by a Presidential Regulation issued by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo in 2018.

However, he did not detail the Perpres in question. He explained that the Perpres stipulates that the land belongs to a State-Owned Enterprise (SOE ) which has been controlled by the people. That way, residents can occupy the land and pay fees.

“I'm also confused, if Pertamina has the land certificate, we won't keep [residing] there. Pertamina only has claim,” said Frengky.

He added that the residents of Kampung Tanah Merah had arranged for the certificate through the Free Land Certificate Program. The 40-year-old man said the IMB would not be issued without a Land Identification Number (NIB).

“So we were registered in the PTSL (Complete Systematic Land Registration) by BPN in 2009. You can check online that we have NIB,” said Frengky.

DESTY LUTHFIANI

Editor's Choice: BPN Head Talks about Land Ownership around Pertamina Plumpang Depot

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News