Pertamina asks govt to protect oil contractor in Maluku

Oil and gas company Pertamina asked the government to provide security guarantee for its production sharing contractor PT Kalrez Petroleum Limited doing exploration in the Bula district, Central Maluku regency, Maluku, following a social conflict in the area, Antara news agency reported.

A public relations staff of Pertamina L. Hariyanto said on Tuesday 82 workers, or 50 percent of the company's workforce, had been evacuated to Sorong town in Irian Jaya following a conflict in the area on March 9 and 10.

He said the evacuation had significantly affected the company's operation since most of the evacuated workers were skilled workers.

The Indonesian, Hong Kong and Australian joint venture could only operate at 50 percent of its capacity and it was unlikely to meet its production target of 600 barrels per day.

Hariyanto said none of the company's properties were vandalized during the clash but it was forced to stop production for a week after the incident.

The news agency reported the situation remained tense in the area on Tuesday. (*)