Pertamina suspected of causing river pollution in S. Sumatra

An oil refinery operated by state oil and gas firm Pertamina was suspected of causing environmental pollution in South Sumatra?s Musi River, local daily Sriwijaya Post reported Friday.

The paper said that a team of NGO activists had examined the Musi River water and had determined that wastewater from Pertamina?s Plaju Sei Gerong refinery had heavily polluted the river. The project is located in Seirebo village in Musibanyuasin regency.

The NGO activists, who were from several NGOs including Indonesia Environmental Forum (Walhi), said that wastewater from the oil refinery contained lead.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson of the local office of Pertamina, Yusnizar Umar, denied the river pollution allegations. The NGOs might have not conducted proper laboratory examination, he said.

Plaju Sei Gerong is among the nine oil distilling facilities operated by Pertamina. (*)