REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, SURABAYA -- Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Minister Ignasius Jonan said he was still awaiting the results of an investigation into the oil-spill incident with a fire in Balikpapan Bay, late last March. The police and the Ministry of Environment and Forestry have run an investigation against the case.

"The exact cause of the oil spill in Balikpapan waters need to be investigated to find out if it was a result of pipe break, aged pipe, or other disorders," Jonan remarked here on Wednesday.

Jonan has suggested that the issue of oil spill in the Bay of Balikpapan be investigated thoroughly.

"The thorough investigation must be completed before the future solution is sought. In my opinion, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry should be proactive because the oil spill has the most impact on environmental pollution," the ESDM minister remarked in Jakarta recently.

He further explained that the law enforcement officers must also be observant in cracking down and tracing the effects of the oil spill.

Based on recent investigation, the police have so far questioned 22 witnesses in the Pertamina oil spill in Balikpapan Bay area, East Kalimantan.

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, to prevent it 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 recently.

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 North Penajam Pasir.

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