CNOOC accused of causing oil spills in Seribu islands
Wednesday, December 22 2004 - 02:44 AM WIB
The Office of the State Minister for Environmental Affairs has formally named China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) as the main suspect of the recent mysterious oil spills, which has polluted the Seribu islands waters in the northern part of Jakarta, Koran Tempo reported on Wednesday.
The office named the Chinese company as the main suspect of causing the oil spills after conducting a thorough survey in 14 offshore oil rigs operated by CNOOC near the Seribu islands, one of the country's important sea conservation areas.
"We have found a strong indication that CNOOC was responsible for causing oil spills in Seribu islands," a senior official at the ministry.
According to him, his office and Oil and Gas Institute (Lemigas) had taken crude oil samples from 14 oil rigs operated by Lemigas. Tests indicated that samples taken from four of the oil rigs showed similarities with the oil spills in the Seribu islands.
"Now, the government has enough proofs to take the Chinese company to the court. We hope we will be able to formally file the legal suit against the company early next year," he said. (*)