Pertamina?s dynamites crack houses in Bekasi-W. Java?s oil field

The using of dynamites for exploration activities in state oil and gas firm Pertamina?s oil field in Bekasi, West Java, have caused damages to a number of houses in the area, Kompas daily reported on Monday.

Last Saturday?s dynamite explosion caused strong jolts and cracked a number of houses and other buildings in the Sembilangan village, Bekasi. Houses damaged included those located one kilometer from the explosion site.

Sembilangan villagers said that they had met with Pertamina?s executives who promised to compensate them for any damage caused by explosions at the company?s project site. The meeting took place before Saturday.

But so far Pertamina had not made clear whether it would fulfill its promise to the Sembilangan people.

Pertamina started exploration activities in the Bekasi field in mid-July as part of its program to increase oil production from the area. The company had prepared hundreds of ?explosion points? in several districts namely Babelan, Tarumajaya and Sukawangi. (*)