Pipe leakges at Pertamina's Pelembang operation spark protests

A number of pipe leakages on Pertamina's gas and oil operations in Palembang, South Sumatra have sparks protests from the public and environmental activists, Kompas reported on Thursday.

The local chapter of the Indonesian environmental forum Walhi said on Wednesday that a number of pipe leakages which took place in Pertamina's gas and oil pipelines in Palembang recently reflected the state owned oil company's lack of commitment to protect the environment.

According to Walhi, the pipe leakages did not only damage the environment but also claimed a number of lives.

Pertamina's pipeline which transmitted oil from its production unit to the processing center leaked on Sunday when a number of workers were repairing some part of the pipes. The leakage at the pipe segment located in Ciptodadi village in Musi Rawas regency had caused a heavy explosion. One of the workers was killed in the incident while several others suffered injuries.

The incident was not the first. Similar leakages had also taken place either on Pertamina's pipelines or on its production sharing contractors.

Only a week ago, the pipeline owned by Pertamina's partner Gulf also leaked, causing fire, which almost burned the houses of the local villagers.

Walhi said that the oil company should improve the maintenance of its pipelines in the province so that no more leakages would take place in the future. (*)