Walhi protests Pertamina over oil spill in Komering river

The chapter of green activist organization Walhi has strongly protested state owned oil and gas company Pertamina over the oil spill at the company?s oil processing plant in Plaju, South Sumatra, local newspaper Sriwijaya Post reported on Thursday.

Walhi accused Pertamina of being not serious enough in handling the oil spill which had caused a heavy pollution in the Komering river which is located near the oil processing plant.

The organization said that the slow handling of the oil spill had caused the oil pollution to spread to larger parts of the river. Walhi also appealed the local police to investigate the oil spillover in the river which is used by the local residents for bathing and for daily needs.

Spokesman for Pertamina?s Plaju production unit, Husni Madjri, acknowledged recently the company?s oil spillover. He said that ?an emergency? situation in one of Pertamina?s refinery plant had caused part of the crude oil to spill into a canal linked to the river.

He said that the company had installed oil catcher in the canal but part of the oil spill still continued to flow into the river. He added that Pertamina would soon install an ?oil boom? in the mouth of the canal to stop the oil spill. (*)