Energy Ministry Responds to Pertamina Oil Spill in Balikpapan Bay

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry`s oil and gas engineering and environment director Soerjaningsih said that there needs to be an emergency response restoration procedure for Pertamina`s broken oil pipe following the oil spill in the Balikpapan Bay, East Kalimantan.

“It does indeed lack the emergency system,” said Soerjaningsih during the 2018 Indonesian Petroleum Association (IPA) Convex at the Jakarta Convention Center on Friday, May 4.

A temporary analysis states that Pertamina's 12 millimeter-thick and 20-inch diameter oil pipe was damaged by the anchor of the MV Ever Judger cargo ship that dragged the pipe located 25-meters underwater.

Read: Pertamina to Lift Broken Pipe in Balikpapan Bay

According to Soerjaningsih, the pipe was in a good condition and had no corrosion.

Furthermore, Soerjaningsih requested the Directorate General of Sea Transportation put extra efforts in tightening the safety precautions of several regions that are passed by ships, especially since the DG is responsible for issuing anchoring permits.

Previously, Pertamina plans to sue the owner and operator of the cargo ship that has allegedly damaged its Balikpapan Bay oil pipe intentionally by dragging the pipe with the ship’s anchor. The state-owned oil company has filed a report to the Kalimantan Police on April 13. 

ZARA AMELIA