Pertamina Tanker Spills Oil in Molucca Sea

Jakarta Globe,  July 31, 2013

A workers cleans up the logo of the state energy company, Pertamina.
(JG Photo/ Yudhi Sukma Wijaya)

A tanker owned by state energy company Pertamina spilled thousands of tons of oil into the Molucca Sea after it got into trouble off Ternate, North Maluku on Wednesday.

Bagus Handoko, the firm’s distribution manager, told the state-run Antara news agency that the KM Patriot Andalan was anchored at the port of Ternate when high seas caused the connection between the oil store and the transfer pipe to rupture.

“The boat was carrying 7,000 tons of fuel from Papua,” he said.

Workers managed to unload 1,600 tons of premium fuel and diesel but the rest spilled into the sea.

“We are currently trying to contain the oil spill and prevent it from expanding further, while trying to neutralize the oil already spilled into the sea,” he said, adding that Pertamina was still calculating the financial losses suffered as a result of the incident.

“This will not disrupt the city’s oil supply,” he said. “The supply will be sufficient for the next 23 days.”

In Tasikmalaya, West Java, meanwhile, a Pertamina oil pipe used to distribute premium fuel leaked a total of 2,200 kiloliters into the surrounding area, causing a fire.

“If Pertamina did not shut the valve down immediately, more losses could have been recorded,” Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Jero Wacik said on Wednesday.

A man named Edi Istianto was admitted to a hospital with burns.

Pertamina personnel reportedly noticed the leak on Wednesday morning. A faucet, electric drill and a hammer were found at the site.

“Theft is a criminal act. It endangers the country as well as public safety, and we have to prevent an incident like this from happening again,” Jero said.

The National Police were still investigating the alleged theft.

Related Article:

Stricken Tanker Spills Fuel Into Seas Off Ternate