Conoco forced to divert pipeline by villager

By Godang Sitompul

American firm ConocoPhilips has been forced to change the route of its gas pipeline in Suban, Musi Banyuasin regency, South Sumatra because a villager by the name of Haji Sopawi has barred the firm from building the pipeline past his lands.

The firm has found an alternative route past a bridge.

?Works are now in progress to boost the capacity of the bridge,? upstream authority BPMIGAS?s chief spokesman I Gde Pradnyana said on Tuesday.

?Meanwhile, we continue trying to change Sopawi?s minds,? he said.

Editing by Johannes Simbolon