REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Legislator Syaikhul Islam Ali of the Commission VII of the House of Representatives (DPR) has urged the government to resolve the oil spill problem at Balikpapan Bay. The government should prevent the spill from escalating and harming the interest of the public.

"The oil spill has caused loss of lives and serious environmental pollution. If not solved immediately, it will have the worst impacts, which why I urge the government and (state-owned oil and gas firm) Pertamina to immediately resolve the problem," Ali stated in Jakarta on Thursday (Apri 5).

Ali, who is also a member of the National Awakening Party (FPKB) faction, remarked that the affected area is estimated to cover seven thousand hectares. The length of the affected coast reaches 60 kilometers.

"Based on available data, the map of the area affected by the oil spill is widespread, and people around the area have been complaining of nausea and dizziness over the past few days due to the stinking oil odor," Ali explained.

LAPAN satellite imaging shows the spread of oil spill at Balikpapan Bay.

The oil spill in Balikpapan Bay waters is thought to have originated from Pertamina oil installations in Balikpapan.

The oil spill was caused due to a broken oil pipeline owned by PT. Pertamina. The oil spill affected two areas in East Kalimantan province, namely Balikpapan and Penajam Pasir Utara.

Ali asked PT. Pertamina to routinely check the condition of its oil pipes located under the sea to prevent similar incidents. He also requested that the case be taken for legal process.

"Pertamina should not be negligent; it must regularly check the condition of its oil pipeline. Such an incident basically happens rarely, but if it happens, its impact would be great. I ask the parties involved to be responsible and to take legal process," he pointed out.

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