House Member Suspects Sabotage in Pertamina Oil Refinery Blaze

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A lawmaker of the House's Commission VII, Nasyirul Falah Amru, on Monday urged law enforcers to investigate the cause of the massive fire that erupted at Pertamina’s Cilacap Oil Refinery, believing sabotage could still be considered a possible cause. 

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) politician said he was still unable to accept that the massive blaze was caused by nature in the form of a lightning strike, which had been used as the initial explanation behind the fire. 

He referred to Pertamina’s claims that the firm’s oil refineries always follow international standards, and argued that it was unacceptable to blame it on a lightning strike. He then asserted the fact that this was a recurring issue as in June Pertamina’s Balongan refinery also caught fire, with a full investigation report still pending. 

“All of this is irrational. Especially if it’s said that it is due to a lightning strike. Sabotage is a likely suspect,” said Nasyirul in today’s press conference. “This means there are 16 cases of oil refinery fires. Pertamina is truly incompetent, they couldn’t even conduct an investigation.”

From 2008 to 2021, there have been 16 oil refinery and depo accidents recorded. In Cilacap alone, there have been seven incidents since 2008 while the latest marked the second fire in 2021. 

Read: Investigation Launched Following Pertamina Refinery Blaze

EGI ADYATAMA