Durian. Indonesian government plans to relocate Plumpang integrated fuel storage in North Jakarta to another safer location, following fire accident that took place last Friday, killing at least 19 people and injured 49 others.
Indonesian State-owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir on Monday confirmed that the fuel storage, operated by state-run oil and gas company Pertamina to a land owned by state-owned seaport operator Pelindo.
The fire broke up last Friday at the fuel storage that is according to initial investigation was caused by a leaking pipe that was at the time receiving fuel, transferring from Balongan Refinery in Central Java.
The fire then spread burning densely populated area next to the fuel storage. As of Monday, death toll from the fire has reached 19 and 49 people were injured, while 13 others are still missing.
Minister Erick statement came after President Joko Widodo on Sunday ordered related officials including State-owned Enterprises Minister to find solution to avoid similar accident to happen in the future.
Something that has tickled public attention was Minister Erick statement itself in which he could not differentiate between refinery and fuel storage. He kept mentioned Plumpang fuel storage as refinery. He was accompanied by Pertamina CEO and another official but both of them only noted when the minister mistakenly mentioned it.
Public keep criticizing the government for letting Pertamina to be handled by those who do not have expertise in oil and gas sector, considering its CEO has background as former Human Resources official of the company.
And under President Widodo’s leadership, he put Pertamina under the State-owned Enterprises. Minister Erick also doesn’t have knowledge and experience in oil and gas sector.
Meanwhile, Pertamina was established in 1971 based on Law No. 8 Year of 1971. It means that Pertamina actually cannot be put under a ministry because it is special company that is at the same level with a ministry.
