Again, Exspan Nusantara?s crude oil pipeline disconnected

A crude oil pipeline owned by PT Exspan Indonesia in Bonot village, Lais Muba district was disconnected on Thursday, last week after unresponsible people cut off the pipeline for unknown reasons. The incident was the seventh during this month, Sumatera Express reported on Monday.

The cutoff had cause a massive oil spill in the area but it was later stopped after the company disconnected the crude oil supply made through the pipeline. The company, however, could not unveil details of the impact of the pipeline disconnection.

In July 6 and 7, the company was forced to disconnect the crude oil supply after a main pipeline in the cluster D and W were cut off by unresponsible persons. "As the result about 1,500 barrels of crude oil could not transmitted causing the company to suffer a financial loss of about Rp 337 million," said the company?s security coordinator Supardjan.

The incidents, which has caused widespread environmental problem, had been reported to the local police, he said.

Huzer Effendi, the head of the local mining office, said he believed that the local people intentionally cut off the pipeline so that the leakage resulted from the cut off would cause pollution. With this action, the locals expected to obtain compensation money from the company. (*)