Police apprehend thieves stealing crude at Tempino-Plaju pipeline

By Godang Sitompul

The police have recently caught thieves red-handed stealing about 88 kiloliters of crude oil from the Tempino-Plaju pipeline in South Sumatra.

Public Relations Manager of PT Pertamina EP, Agus Amperianto told Petromindo.com Tuesday that the police apprehended the thieves while they were trying to get away with their loots, totaling seven containers carried in five trucks.

Agus said that the thieves planned to ship out the crude oil to buyers in South Korea via the local Boom Baru port.

Crude oil theft in the Tempino-Plaju route has been rampant, causing losses to Pertamina EP. But since a death incident last year, the company, with the help of the police and military have intensified efforts to secure the facility.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak