Walhi insists TotalFinaElf?s gas blowout causes environmental damage

The East Kalimantan office of independent environmental watchdog Walhi insisted that the recent gas blowout incident at one of TotaFinaElf?s oil rig in the Mahakam Block had created environmental damage, affecting at least 594 hectare of local shrimp farming area in Sepatian village, Kutai Kertanegara regency.

The local Kaltim Post daily quoted the executive director of the East Kalimantan Walhi Syarifuddin SP as saying Wednesday that 59 shrimp farmers could not make harvest because their farming units had been heavily polluted by oil.

He said that that this statement was based on Walshi?s field investigation in the affected area.

Syarifuddin said that earlier report made by a group of local lawmakers who visited the area saying there was no environmental damage from the gas blowout was untrue.

He said that TotalFinaElf must provide compensation to the affected farmers, and immediately take measures to rehabilitate the environment.(*)