NGO urges govt to suspend TotalFinaElf operation

A local non-government organization (NGO) specializing in mining and oil called Jatam urged the authorities to suspend the operation of oil and gas firm TotalFinaElf operation in Kutai Kertanegara, East Kalimantan, because a gas blowout at one of its rigs earlier this month had caused serious environmental damage.

Jatam East Kalimantan coordinator Muhammad Ramli was quoted by the local Kaltim Post daily as saying that TotalFinaElf must first pay compensation to affected villagers and ensure that is oil and gas operation is equipped with technology that can avoid similar environmental damage in the future.

Jatam (Jaringan Advokasi Tambang) said that some 50 shrimp farmers in the Sepatin village failed to make harvest because of the gas blowout which killed their shrimps.

Jatam also urged the East Kalimantan government to bring TotalFinaElf to the court over environmental crime.

The Tune E5 well was hit by fire earlier this month after a gas blowout incident during drilling operations. The Tunu gas field is situated at the delta of the Mahakam river on the Mahakam Block.(*)