Oil, gas firms operate on increasing alert mode
Monday, October 14 2002 - 04:33 AM WIB
?We have been coordinating with local police force to beef up security in our working areas. But we are not sending our expats home, ? said Renville Almatsier, spokesperson of Caltex Pacific Indonesia (CPI), the biggest Indonesian crude producer owned by US giant Chevron-Texaco.
?We are increasing security alert level in our working areas,? said Ananda Idris, spokespersons of French giant TitalFinaElf E&P Indonesia, which operates giant gas` fields in east Kalimantan.
Petromindo.Com sources said US and British oil and gas firms and had been warned by their respective embassies that there were signs off potential terrorist attack on US interests in petroleum and gas industries all over the world.
The sources said US government had instructed a number of U.S. missions abroad, including in Indonesia, to convince host countries about the potential of the threat.
?The U.S. government asks all U.S. petroleum and gas companies operating in Indonesia to be aware of the increased possibility of terrorist attacks at this time and to take appropriate measures to heighten security around their operations, including tanker and port facilities,? the source quoted US Embassy statement.
US giant Exxon Mobil Corp. said it was still operating its gas field normally in the troubled province of Aceh.
?I can not tell you much yet about level of our security vigilance, but are still operating normally,? said spokesperson Deva Rachman.
The gravity of the threat was acknowledge by coordinating minister of politic and security Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono which admitted that terrorists might target Indonesian energy projects and had ordered security apparatus to increase vigilance.
Meanwhile, BP Migas, the highest authority in Indonesian oil and gas management said it would coordinate with oil and gas contractors and security authorities to beef up security in oil and gas projects. (godang/arry)