Riau?s oil fields still prone to security problem

Oil production facilities at most of Riau?s onshore and offshore oil fields are still prone to security problems due to the lack of security protection made by the existing oil and gas contractors, according to the chief of the Riau police, Deddie Sutardi.

Speaking during a coordinating meeting with the oil contractors in Riau province, Deddie said that the security protection in most of the province?s oil and gas fields was still inadequate.

?The police should be involved so that security problems could be handled more professionally,? he was quoted as saying by Kompas on Wednesday. The meeting was held as part of the preparations of the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on security cooperation between the province?s oil contractors and the local police.

According to him, the security protection in these oil production facilities is not maximal because the police are only involved when the security problems have already taken place.

At least 10 oil companies including PT Caltex Pacific Indonesia, PT Kondur Petroleum, PT Exspan, Pertamina?s several joint operation areas, CPP Block and PT Petronusa Bumi Bakti operate in Riau province.

The state revenue from oil production in Riau contributed about 25 percent of the 2003 state budget which reached about Rp 377.247 trillion.(*)