ExxonMobil Resumes Production after Lunch Riot
3 August 2015 10:28 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Bojonegoro - ExxonMobil Cepu Limited resume its activities in two oil wells on Sunday after it was forced to halt the production of around 55,000 bpd on Saturday because thousands of workers rioted during lunchtime.
Around 2,000 workers got angry and vandalized the building property as they were queuing to leave the worksite for lunch. The incident left six cars damaged and burned.
Erwin Maryoto, Exxon's vice president of public and government affairs, confirmed that they had restarted production. He said that the damage caused by the production halt is still being assessed.
Agus Supriyanto, head of Bojonegoro's of Energy and Mineral Resources Department, said production was stopped after a flare stack was turned off for security reasons; to prevent it from being damaged during the incident.
Agus said the government of Bojonegoro is working to mediate discussion between ExxonMobil and PT Tripatra-Samsung, the designated subcontractor in the Cepu oil field project. "We're looking for the most appropriate solution [for the incident]," he said.
As of Sunday, Aug. 2, the police were still investigating the incident scene.
SUJATMIKO