Indonesia to Sue PTTEP for Environmental Damage due to Montara Oil Spill

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia’s Deputy Minister of Environment and Forestry Alue Dohong said the government planned to file a civil lawsuit for environmental losses resulting from the Montara oil spill in the Timor Sea, East Nusa Tenggara, which occurred back in 2009.

“In the first semester of next year, we target to file a civil lawsuit regarding environmental damage,” Alue said in a press conference at the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Jakarta, on Thursday, November 24, 2022.

Alue outlined that there are several things to be sued, such as damage to sea waters, mangrove ecosystems, seagrass beds, and coral reefs. “We estimate the losses to be nearly Rp23 trillion.”

Apart from that, a civil lawsuit was also filed for the recovery costs of environmental damage at around Rp4.4 trillion.

The Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) had long intended to file a lawsuit with the Central Jakarta District Court but it was withdrawn out of respect for the class action process being carried out by the seaweed farmers. The class action ruling could thus be presented as additional strong evidence that PTTEP admits its actions have caused environmental damage.

He said the ministry continues to collect data by involving experts and it will be calculated scientifically. “That will strengthen the calculation of the cost of environmental damage and the cost of recovery,” Alue added.

Earlier, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said PTTEP agreed to pay US$129 million or Rp2 trillion in compensation to fishermen and seaweed farmers affected by the Montara oil spill.

DEFARA DHANYA PARAMITHA

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