Pertamina's refinery in Sorong causes sea pollution

The refinery plant of the state owned oil and gas company Pertamina in Sorong, Irian Jaya has caused a heavy pollution in the Sele Gulf in the province, threatening the existence of fishery resources in the local sea, Antara reported on Tuesday.

Moch Ali Kastellam, the head of the local branch of the agency's for the supervision of environmental impact, confirmed that a great amount of oil residues were found in the gulf causing a heavy pollution in the sea.

He said that the oil residues were dumped from Pertamina's oil refinery plant in Sorong, which annually produces about 40,000 tons of fuel products including gasoline, kerosene and diesel oil for the local marker and exports.

"During our recent inspection, we found a great amount of oil spillover in the sea," he said, adding that his office had reported the founding to the local office of Pertamina but the problem could not be settled because the head of the oil company was still in Jakarta. (*)