PEP, military succeed in eradicating illegal crude tapping: SKK Migas

By Godang Sitompul

Cooperation between PT Pertamina EP (PEP) and the Indonesian Military (TNI) and Police to secure the Tempino-Plaju crude pipeline in South Sumatra has finally managed to stamp out the crime, according to an official.

As part of the preparations for the drilling, on Oct. 28, 2003, Avep Disasmita, General Manager of Total E&P Indonesie Mentawai BV, accompanied by SKK Migas? Chief Representative for southern Sumatra region Tirat Sambu Ichtijar, paid a courtesy call on the Bengkulu governor to explain about the drilling plan. Earlier, on Oct. 24, they also paid a courtesy call the province?s police chief.

Chief Representative for southern Sumatra region of the upstream oil and gas authority SKK Migas, Tirat Sambu Ichtiar said that as of March of this year, the number of illegal crude tapping has dropped to zero.

He told Petromindo.com Thursday that while some were still trying to put holes on the crude pipeline in Tanjung Jabung, Jambi, to steal oil, the security forces managed to stop and apprehend them.

?The number of illegal crude tapping has dropped to zero percent? This is because of the alertness of the security officials,? he said.

Illegal crude tapping activities and illegal production at suspended have become a major headache for oil and gas contractors in the southern part of Sumatra throughout last year, the SKK Migas said earlier this year.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak