Indonesia: 22 taken in for questioning over Balikpapan spill
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by Admin
Indonesian police have taken in 22 witnesses for questioning in relation to an investigation over an oil spill at Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, according to local media Antara.
“We have questioned 22 witnesses so far,” National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. M. Iqbal said on Monday.
“Our team has also dove into the sea to take pictures and video footage of the burst pipeline.”
Suspects involved in the incident have yet to be named.
The Oil and Gas Director of Indonesia’s energy ministry on Thursday (5 April) said the oil came from a cracked underwater pipeline owned by state-owned oil company Pertamina.
Pertamina initially claimed the oil spill was marine fuel, but changed its assessment on 4 April by admitting the oil originated from a cracked 20-year-old underwater pipeline linked to its Balikpapan refinery.
The city of Balikpapan entered a state of emergency on 2 April due to emissions from the oil spill fire which to date claimed five lives.
Related: Indonesia: Anchor broke pipeline of Pertamina refinery
Related: Pertamina claims responsibility for Balikpapan oil spill
Related: Bunker spill fire causes panic at East Kalimantan city
Related: Pertamina: East Kalimantan marine fuel fire extinguished
Photo credit: Jakarta Post
Published: 10 April, 2018
