Pertamina's Prabumulih oil exploitation pollutes five rivers

Crude waste from oil exploitation of oil wells belonging to the Prabumulih unit of the state oil and gas company Pertamina has polluted not only Pasang River and local people's water spring wells in the village of Sailingan, Pembantu Lebak subdistrict, Prabumulih, but also several other rivers in the area.

According to the Indonesian Environmental Forum's (Walhi) South Sumatra branch, Pertamina Prabumulih's operation also pollutes Kelekar river (at Karang Raja village, Jambat Panjang), Sapang river (at Sialingan village, Lebak subdistrict), Anak Ijau and Petaling rivers (at Lubuk Raman village, Rambang Dangku subdistrict).

In addition, Prabumulih's crude waste also pollutes Guhong (river) Kumbang and Guhong Bengkuang, both running to Kelakar river.

Pertamina's Prabumulih unit acknowledged that its oil exploitation activities had polluted Pasang river since 20 years ago.

Oil pollution at Pasang River especially comes from two oil wells, namely Tanjung Tiga (TT) 20 and TT 38 wells.

According to Admiral, a noted figure at Sailingan village, because of the oil pollution, local people could not anymore consume water from the river. Local people then dug water spring wells to get clean water. But eventually, the water wells were also polluted by oil.

Nasrun, another villager at Sailingan, added that the oil pollution had also reduced the fertility of the lands and thus, affect the people's rubber plantation.

Admiral and Nasrun noted that they had sent letters to Pertamina's Prabumulih unit, with copies to local regents and legislative councils, asking a compensation of Rp 2.225 billion for the suffering of local people due to the oil pollution in their areas. They also demanded the state oil company to build clean water facilities for local people and also electrify their villages. (*)