VICO develops local bacteria to destroy industrial waste

PT VICO Indonesia, an oil company based in East Kalimantan, has developed local bacteria to help destroy the industrial waste resulted from the company's drilling activities and oil and gas production.

Kaltim Post daily reported from Samarinda on Thursday that VICO held a training on microbes development at its office in Muara Badak on Wednesday to give further enlightenment to its workers about the bacteria cultivation. Speakers at the training included microbe experts from the Bandung Institute of Technology Edwan Kardena and Harjati Suhardi.

VICO's site manager rehabilitation, Gde Yudistira Rai said that the use of microbes in coping with the company's industrial waste problem began in 1996 and the bacteria cultivation had been adjusted to the new regulation issued by the ministry of environment early this year.

He said that the use of microbes in coping with the industrial waste especially those which could not be destroyed with conventional ways such as through burning, solidification and piling had been proven to be more effective.

Gde said that before being able to develop local bacteria at its own facilities, VICO imported microbes from Canada or other parties. (*)