Penajam (Antaranews) - State-run energy company PT Pertamina (Persero) has sought valid data on the damages caused by the oil spill in Balikpapan Bay, East Kalimantan, and will pay compensation for the damages.
A legislator of Penajam Paser Utara District Syahruddin M. Noor stated here on Tuesday that Pertamina will pay compensation for the damages based on credible data.
At a meeting with the Penajam Paser Utara Regional Representatives Council, Pertamina`s Refinery Unit V has asserted its readiness to pay the compensation.
The compensation will be based on valid data on the damages, as it will be audited, while the legal process will be handled by the police, Senior Manager of Pertamina RU V Prayitno noted as quoted by Noor.
Hence, he said, the parliament will establish a joint team to collect data and establish a post for those who want to report any damages caused by the oil spill.
He expressed hope that the compensation would be paid as soon as possible and that Pertamina should quickly respond in case of such an incident in future.
"Pertamina should take it seriously. It should be followed up, or the parliament would establish a special committee for the oil spill case," he added.
According to data of the Penajam Paser Utara District, the oil spill in Balikpapan Bay had affected 385 families along the Penajam coastline and had polluted the fishermen`s fishponds.
It had also polluted fishponds in Nenang Village, and the oil spill had affected 236 families in the region.
In addition, the oil spill has damaged the environment, with at least 10 thousand mangrove seeds dying.
On Mar 31, an oil spill caused a fire that killed five people. The oil spill was crude oil that had leaked from the pipelines connecting the Lawe-Lawe terminal and their refinery unit. (*)
