Pertamina claims responsibility for Balikpapan oil spill

Indonesia state oil company Pertamina on Wednesday explained that a recent oil spill at Balikpapan Bay in East Kalimantan, Indonesia has been caused by a cracked underwater pipeline.

“The pipe was found […] in a broken condition. There were external factors that caused that,” said Togar M.P., general manager of Pertamina’s refinery in Balikpapan, as quoted by Reuters at a news conference.

“We are still calculating the volume of the leak and losses.”

He did not state if the pipeline has been repaired yet.

However, earlier oil laboratory tests conducted by Pertamina found out the material to be fuel oil bunkers – a product not produced at the Balikpapan Refinery.

Meanwhile, the Director General of oil & gas at Indonesia’s energy ministry says the department is still unclear over what caused the leak.

“It could be that the pipeline is rusty or an anchor hit it,” said Djoko Siswanto.

The city of Balikpapan entered a state of emergency on Monday due to emissions from fires coming from the oil spill.

Related: Bunker spill fire causes panic at East Kalimantan city
Related: Pertamina: East Kalimantan marine fuel fire extinguished

Photo credit: Pertamina
Published: 5 April, 2018