Oil spill causes heavy pollution at sea near Kebumen

Oil spill suspected coming from Pertamina?s oil takers has caused a heavy pollution at sea along the 95 kilometer beach linking Mirit and Ayah district in the Kabumen regency, Central Java, Kompas reported on Monday.

The oil spill, which was first detected on May 18, has severely affected the local fishermen?s activities, as well as damaging the environment and the sea animal. "Based in our rough estimation, the oil spill has caused a loss of at least Rp 1 billion to the local residents who are mostly fishermen," Kebumen regent Rustriningsih told the daily.

According to sources, the oil spill which has affected at least eight regencies, is suspected to come from Peramina?s tankers which regularly transport crude oil to the company?s oil refinery plant in Cilacap. "All the tankers passing the local sea are owned by Pertamina. Just find which tankers that passed the Kebumen sea before May 20," the source said.

Pertamina is still investigating the source of the heavy crude oil, which spilled the sea along the Kebumen, and Purworejo beaches. But the spokesman of Pertamina unit in Cilacap, Husni Banser said that the oil spill was not " crude or asphalt.

The oil spill is not the first time for Kebumen and Purworedjo. In July 2001, a leakage from a Pertamina?s tanker carrying asphalt and oil waste, had also caused a heavy pollution. (*)