PEP temporarily shuts crude pumping in South Sumatra
Thursday, July 25 2013 - 05:21 AM WIB
PT Pertamina EP (PEP), a subsidiary of state oil and gas company PT Pertamina, said on Thursday that due to the recurring cases of illegal tapping on its pipes, it has decided to stop temporarily the pumping of crude from Tempino pipe to Plaju refinery in South Sumatera.
"We?ve just received a confirmation from the field regarding the case. Due to the theft, we have to stop the crude pumping temporarily,? Agus Amperianto, Public Relations Manager at PT Pertamina EP, told Petromindo.com in Jakarta on Thursday.
?It is the decision of PT Pertamina as the holding company to shut it down. Apparently the theft cases during the last two days have made the top management decides that it can no longer be tolerated,? he said.
Agus noted that the illegal tappings were conducted in a massive scale and well organized, involving certain individuals from the local security institutions.
He added that PEP will soon check all suspected points along the pipeline of KM-265-139.
"We?re currently waiting for a decision from the top management of Pertamina whether to continue shutting it down or not, and whether to take a comprehensive and serious step of investigating the case with help from the local security institutions.
But he said that PEP will ensure the stability of oil fuels (BBM) supply in South Sumatra ahead of the Lebaran festivity, so that the local people will not have to face BBM-supply shortage or price problems.
Editing by Benget Besalicto ST