REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BALIKPAPAN -- Pertamina Refinery Unit V General Manager, Togar MP denied oil spill at Balikpapan Bay occured following the company negligence in conducting surveillance to its underwater pipelines. Pertamina's oil pipelines were allegedly broken and caused the spill.
Togar said it was too early to take such conclusion on the problem. "It's too early to say that PT Pertamina is negligent," said Togar on Friday (April 6).
The oil spill has affected two areas in East Kalimantan province, namely Balikpapan and Penajam Pasir Utara. Five people also reported died due to the incident. It also killed a dolphin (Orcaella Brevirostris), a rare marine mammal that inhabits the Balikpapan bay.
In addition, as many as 162 fishing vessels and fishing gear could not sail to the sea that were polluted by crude oil. During the past two days, operation at Port Semayang was closed. It has caused the ship arriving in Balikpapan unable to enter and dock at the port, and the ship in Balikpapan Bay could not get out.
According to Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) report, the total affected area reached almost 13 thousand hectares. The trees in the forest mengrove in the north of Kariangau also covered by oil.
However, Togar asserted Pertamina to wait for police investigation report. He said PT Pertamina did not want to argue about the possible cause of incident.
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