Pipe leak in Tasikmalaya fixed, BBM flows

State oil and gas company PT Pertamina managed to fix the leak on the oil fuels (BBM) pipe CB2. The leak was caused by a group of irresponsible people who attempted to illegally tap BBM from the pipe.

?The firefighting teams from Tasikmalaya, Cilacap, Garut, Balongan, and Jakarta have managed to extinguish the fire on Tuesday night at 22.40 eastern Indonesian time (WIB). It was about 4 hours and 40 minutes after the fire occurred in the pipe. We?ve also managed to fix the leak with clamps on the pipe,? Pertamina Vice President for Corporate Communication, Ali Mundakir said.

Ali also said that the teams had also conducted an early test on the clamps, and found that no more leak in the pipe. ?On Thursday at 8.00 (WIB) Pertamina resumed the pumping of the BBM through the CB-2 pipe and it functions well, no leak was found. We managed to handle the leak faster than expected, as previously it was expected to proceed until four days.

The leak on the BBM pipe was found on Tuesday morning in Ancol village of Cineam district in Tasikmalaya regency, about 15 kilometers from Tasikmalaya BBM terminal. It was suspected to have caused by an attempt of certain people to illegally tap the BBM by using a boring tool, hammer, and valves, which were left on the location. Later, a fire occurred in the pipe.

?Such illegal tapping, which has also occurred in Tempino-Plaju, South Sumatra recently, is a dangerous action as it causes fire that could endanger all people around,? Ali said.

Editing by Benget Besalicto ST