PetroChina?s Jabung PSC suffers loss due to protests

Villagers in Tajung Timur regency, Jambi blockaded road used by PT PetroChina International Jabung Ltd, an Indonesian unit of Chinese oil, gas giant PetroChina, to transport its crude, cuasing losses on the firm, Kompas reported on Monday.

PetroChina has suffered potential loss of about Rp 12.5 billion due to the stoppage, the company?s vice president for human resources and general affairs manager, Maryke Pulunggono said in Jambi last week.

The villagers blocked the access road to an oil receiving terminal last week in a protest to the company?s recruitment policy.

Maryke said that the villagers demanded the company to hire local villagers as drivers and other workers for the transportation of crude oil from the terminal, which is handled by subcontractor PT Pelita.

?The villagers were disappointed because the company never met its promise to involve the local villagers,? she said.

The disclosure of the access road to the terminal also disrupted gas supply to the Tanjung Jabung gas-fired power plant which provides electricity for the regions.

When contacted by Petromindo.com on Monday, an official said the crude transportation has returned to normal, but he did not provide details.

PetroChina is the operator of the Jabung block with 27.85715 percent interest. Other interest holders are: Petronas Carigali (27.85715 percent), PP Oil&Gas (Indonesia-Jabung) Ltd (30 percent) and PT.Pertamina (Persero) (14.28570 percent).(*)