A joint team set up to deal with oil thefts
Friday, October 5 2012 - 02:17 AM WIB
To help deal with rampant crude oil thefts in the country, in particular in South Sumatra, a special team has been set up with members coming from the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, BPMIGAS, PT Pertamina, the National Police, Office of Coordinating Ministry for Politics, Law and Security.
?We have a joint team to try to resolve the crude oil thefts. Such illegal activities in South Sumatra for instance have caused considerable losses to the state,? Director General of Oil and Gas Evita Legowo said in her office.
She did not elaborate on how the team would carry out its task.
The decision came days after a deadly incident occurred while alleged thieves were taking out crude from a leaked section of the Tempino-Plaju oil pipeline. The section caught fire that eventually killed 5 people and injured tens of others.
The police is still investigating the deadly fire incident which took place at the 219th km in Bayung Lencir, Musi Banyuasin regency.
Pertamina EP that operates the pipeline lane has fallen victim to the illegal tapping of crude. The lane normally supplies 11,000-12,000 bopd of crude from Lampung to Pertamina?s refinery in Plaju, Palembang, South Sumatra.
Editing by Dadan Wijaksana