Pertamina?s oil well blowout forces 840 villagers to evacuate

A total of 840 villagers evacuated on Friday following an blowout at an oil well owned by state oil and gas company PT :Pertamina, Kompas reported on Saturday.

The blowout, which occurred in Betung I neighborhood of Purun village, Penukal Abab district, Muara Enim regency, shot jets of crude oil 35 meters into the air, polluting the plants and houses of the villagers within the radius of one kilometer, according to the paper.

The villagers wore masks in order to protect themselves from the oil spill.

A similar incident occurred at the well on November 9, 2004, the paper said, adding the well was formerly owned by American firm Stanvac.

Pertamina?s general manager for southern Sumatra operation Djoko Susanto said the blowout occurred due to a high pressure of gas in the well, which produces 300 barrels of oil per day.

Pertamina will provide food for the villagers and give each of them Rp 25,000 per day in compensation for their loss of income. The firm will also negotiate to purchase five hectares of most-polluted lands from the villagers

Local councilor Rizal Kennedi said the villagers were not satisfied with the amount of compensation offered by Pertamina and would file a lawsuit to force the firm to pay higher compensations and improve its performance. (*)