PEP: Illegal crude tapping now moves to Limau area

By Godang Sitompul

PT Pertamina EP (PEP) said that illegal crude tapping at the Tampino-Plaju pipeline in South Sumatra has finally stopped following aggressive security operation jointly conducted by the military and police.

But PEP President Director Syamsu Alam told Petromindo.com Wednesday that the illegal tappers have now move to infringe the company?s pipeline asset in the Limau area in South Sumatra.

?The illegal taping in Bayung Lincir has stopped thanks to the TNI (Indonesian Military) and Polri (Indonesian Police). But the aggressive security operation has resulted in the perpetrators to move to steal crude at another place including in Limau,? Syamsu said, adding that he has instructed his staff at the Health, Safety, Security and Environment (HSSE) to prepare strategy to secure the company?s assets across the country.

PEP Public Relations Manager Agus Amperianto said that the illegal tappers on Sunday committed their crime in Limau. The company has not plugged and fixed the hole on the pipe made by the illegal tappers, and taken measures to clean up the crude waste to help avoid further damage to the local environment.

The company has warned villagers not to illegally tape crude from the pipeline as it is dangerous both to the lives of people and the local environment.

Agus said that the illegal tapping of crude oil was partly triggered by the current plunge in the price of rubber, which is a key plantation commodity in the province, tempting some people to be engage in the criminal activity.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak