Protesting villagers withdrew from Caltex’ Banko field

Hundreds of villagers that occupied Caltex Pacific Indonesia’s Banko oilfield on Thursday had peacefully dispersed, a CPI official said.

“The villagers decided not to continue with their occupation and left the oilfield’s compound on Friday,” said CPI spokesperson Is Nugroho.

Is said Banko’s oil production was not affected.

Banko villagers occupied Bangko Camp in a bid to force CPI pay compensation for their land that used by the company.

Banko field produces 37,000 barrels of oil per day.

CPI, a wholly owned subsidiary of US giant Chevron-Texaco, is Indonesia’s top oil producer, flowing some 500,000 barrels per day from its Central Sumatra oilfields. (godang)