Exspan-Pertamina pay compensation to fire victims

Pertamina-Exspan Nusantara have agreed to pay compensation to victims and damages caused by a fire resulting from oil leakage at their oil pipeline in Banyuasin regency, South Sumatra, Neraca reported on Thursday.

The pipeline leaked and later caused a big fire after thieves took out a valve in the pipeline. The fire damaged hectares of plantations and killed four villagers. "Although the fire resulted from the works of criminals we will be fully responsible," the director of PT Exspan Nusantara told reporters in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Speaking in a press conference which was also attended by Pertamina?s director for upstream operation Iin Arifin Takhyan, Budi said that besides giving cash as the compensation for the damages caused by the fire, the company was also responsible to provide medical treatment for the victims.

"Victims who could not be treated in Palembang hospital are flown to Jakarta," he said. Asked about the possibility of a sabotage involved in the fire, Budi said that the police was investigating the case. "Our safety measure now is to temporarily suspend the oil supply through the pipeline and closed the affected area," he said.(*)