Pertamina pollutes South Sumatra river

The state-owned oil and gas company Pertamina has polluted the local Sungai Bolo river in Rambang Dangku district, Muara Enim regency, South Sumatra, the local Sumatra Express daily reported Monday.

The paper quoted Pertamina Prabumulih manager Amran Anwar as saying that the pollution was possibly caused by a leakage in oil pipeline.

Amran said that the company had tried to clean up the river, adding that some 170 tons of oil had been extracted from the river.

Meanwhile, local FMPL non-governmental organization lambasted Pertamina for being too slow in resolving the pollution problem. FMPL deputy head Asril Ferian said that the leakage had already started 10 days ago.(*)