PEP says illegal tapping of crude in S. Sumatra down

By Godang Sitompul

PT Pertamina EP (PEP) said that the company continues to suffer from illegal tapping of crude in the Tampino-Plaju lane in South Sumatra, but the average losses so far in September has declined from the average in the previous months.

?Almost everyday we find cases of illegal tapping in the Tampino-Plaju lane. However, the average losses in September was only 8 percent, compared to the average of 20 percent in the previous months,? PEP Director of Operation, Bagus Sudaryanto told Petromindo.com Wednesday.

While he did not say the reasons behind the decline in losses, the company hopes that it would continue to go down in the future.

The Tempino-Plaju lane supplies 11,000-12,000 bopd of crude to Pertamina?s refinery in Plaju, Palembang, South Sumatra. In June of this year, PEP was forced to temporarily suspend the supply amid rampant thievery, a problem seen difficult to overcome as it?s mostly conducted by people living in surrounding areas. The company has conducted persuasive approach to deal with the issue to avoid direct conflict.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak