Muara Enim farming area seriously polluted by crude oil

At least 60 hectares of swamp and farming areas in Talang Ubi village, Muara Enim regency, South Sumatra have been seriously polluted by crude oil believed to come from the pipeline of oil producer Indelberg Indonesia, a joint operation partner of the state oil and gas company Pertamina, Palembang Pos reported Saturday.

Two members of the legislative council in Muara Enim, Edi Rahmadi and Edi Suprianto who recently inspected the area shot the polluted area with their handy cam. The 30-minute video recording clearly indicated that almost 75 percent of the 60 hectare-swamp and farming area near the company's pipeline had been covered by crude oil.

The legislators said that the polluted water from the swamp had also spread into the nearby rivers, traditionally used by the local people for bathing and washing their clothes. "The rivers can not be used any more due to the pollution," Edi said. "The swamp location, the main fishing area of the reason, have no more fishes because the pollution," he added. (*)