Caltex halts oil production Rokan Hilir due to blockade

Caltex Pacific Indonesia has stopped oil production activities at one of its oil wells in Rokan Hilir, Riau after residents at the Genting village, Tanahputih district blocked the access road to the oil well, Republika daily reported on Thursday.

The daily said that the blockade, which started on Friday last week, continued on Wednesday. The protesting residents took over two of the oil pumps in the well and stopped their operations. The protesters also seized one of the company?s vehicles.

The daily also reported that some of the company?s security men were also held as hostages when they were conducting security checks in the well. ?We are still unable to enter the well as the residents are still in full control of the well,? Firdaus, the executive of PT Hijrah Firdaus Marullah, which handles the oil giant?s oil production and exploration at the well.

The protesters did not clearly state their demand but sources said that the residents had earlier demanded Caltex to employ locals at its oil wells in the Tanahputih district. PT Hijrah, which won the contract from Caltex to take in charge of the oil wells in the area, could not accommodate the demand.

Firdaus said that the company was only able to hire two of the locals due to the limited job openings. (*)