Pertamina's oil tank in South Sumatra explodes

An oil tank at state-owned oil and gas firm PT Pertamina's Receiving Station in Talang Ubi district, Muara Enim, Palembang, South Sumatra has exploded, burning down thousands of barrels of crude oil stored in the tank, Palembang Pos reported Friday.

But no casualties were reported.

The seven-meter high tank no. 103 with a capacity of 15,000 barrels of crude oil exploded at 11:45 a.m. Thursday when the tank was receiving crude oil channeled from an oil well in Talang Akar area.

The blaze was brought under control at around 15:30 p.m. after Pertamina's firefighter unit came to the site and put out the fire.

Rochman, a spokesman for security unit of Pertamina EP Region Sumatra, said that the cause of the explosion had yet to be known but he said, "It was allegedly caused by a splash of fire. But the cause of (the explosion) is still under intensive investigation."

Agus, representing local police head Heru Pranoto, acknowledged the explosion but he said the cause of the accident was still under investigation. (*)