TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister for Marine Affairs, Luhut Binsar Panjaitan, revealed the government's plan regarding the case of Montara oil spill in the Timor Sea.
"We want to finish it nicely, without a trial it is no problem," he said after dinner in Metropolitan, Washington DC, on Friday night April 20.
On May 3, 2017, the government filed a lawsuit to the Central Jakarta District Court for the Montara oil field incident in the East Sea.
It was filed to The Petroleum Authority of Thailand Exploration and Production Australasia (PTTEP-AA), The Petroleum Authority of Thailand Exploration and Production Public Company Limited (PTTEP) and The Petroleum Authority of Thailand Public Company Limited (PTT PCL).
Luhut wants PTTEP to be responsible for the impact of the oil spill in Indonesia.
"They must clean up the former damage to the environment and compensate the people," he said.
Moreover, PTTEP plans to invest in the business in Indonesia.
"They want to invest USD 2 billion, so why keep fighting," he said.
Luhut confirmed the administration of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's era once sued Rp3 trillion to the Thai companies. But the lawsuit has not been resumed since nine years ago.
The decision to request that PTTEP is responsible has considered various aspects, one of them with a legal approach.
"We also consulted with international marine law expert Pak Hasyim Djalal, and finally we asked for both to be compensated: local people and damaged environment."
Luhut said an independent appraisal team would calculate the number of losses to Indonesia. It will be negotiated after receiving the numbers. Luhut wanted the damage due to the Montara oil spill must be carefully audited.
"Do not trump up," he said.
The oil spill from The Montara Well Head Platform in the West Block Atlas Timor Sea of Australia's waters occurred on August 21, 2009. Leaks at the mouth of the well resulted in the spilling of oil and hydrocarbon gas into the sea. It also reached the territorial waters of Indonesia, which then made the government filed a lawsuit.
In the lawsuit, the government asked from the Montara amounting to Rp23 trillion in compensation for environmental damage as well as damages for environmental damage recovery amounting to Rp4.4 trillion.
ALI AKHMAD NOOR HIDAYAT
