Oil, gas firms shine in environment audit

Oil and gas sector has performed commendably in the latest environmental audit, or Proper, conducted by the Ministry of Environment.

Chevron Geothermal Indonesia Ltd in Garut, a geothermal arms of US energy giant Chevron, won the gold label, the highest award in the environment audit, along with cement producer PT Holcim in Cilacap.

Of 650 companies audited, 54 were granted green mark, and 435 received blue label. The red mark was given to 152 companies and the remaining 47 firms were handed a black mark for their worst practice of pollution. Environment minister Gusti Muhammad Hatta said companies with black mark would face justice.

In terms of environmental management, the oil and gas sector scored the highest rate with 83 percent, followed by manufacture sector with 72 percent, the service and estate sector with 69 percent and agroindustry sector with 59 percent.

In terms of investment state companies topped the ranking with 76 percent, up from 68 percent last year, followed by foreign investors with 74 percent and domestic investors with 65 percent.

Unlike in the previous years, the Proper this year took into account the stringent 2009 law on environment protection and management. (godang)