Mysterious oil spill in Seribu islands investigated

BPMIGAS, the government's agency in charge of oil exploration and production, is investigating the possible sources of the mysterious oil spills found near Pramuka and Kotok isles in the Seribu islands in the northern part of Jakarta.

BPMIGAS said that it was cooperating with related agencies including the authority of the Seribu islands, the local office of the national marine park and the environmental office to investigate the possible sources of the oil spill which had serious pollution in the area.

The agency suspected that the oil spill could come from oil exploration and production operated by CNOOC and BP West Java oil companies in western part of the polluted area or unregistered oil tankers which often used the location as their route in the transportation of crude oil.

"An operation to cleanse the oil spills is underway and will be continued within the next few days," the agency said in a statement. The agency has so far collected 720 bags of hardened crude oils from the area and would add 40 more people to complete the cleansing works. (*)