KLH Takes Legal Steps for Alleged Negligence of PT Vopak Merak Terminal

Minister of Environment and Forestry Hanif Faisol Nurofiq during a visit to PT Vopak Terminal Merak in Cilegon, Wednesday (4/2/2026). ANTARA/Devi Nindy

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Environment has taken legal action for alleged negligence by PT Vopak Terminal Merak which resulted in public health disorders around the industrial area.

Minister of Environment and Forestry Hanif Faisol Nurofiq said the case had exposed at least 56 residents, so it had serious legal consequences according to the provisions of the law.

"Because this is negligence that causes public health disorders, the impact must have sufficient consequences," said Hanif as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, February 4.

He stated that KLH fully supports the investigation conducted by the National Police as the coordinator of supervision, including the legal process being handled by the Cilegon Police.

"Of course we will support the efforts of the National Police in the investigation step, especially because there has been exposure to 56 people," he said.

Hanif emphasized that the condition had fulfilled the elements of Article 99 paragraph 2 of Law Number 32 of 2009 concerning the Protection and Management of the Environment.

"I think it is enough evidence to lead to Article 99 paragraph 2 of Law 32 of 2009," he said.

In addition to the criminal process, the KLH will also carry out the mandate of Article 87 of Law 32 of 2009 regarding the government's lawsuit for environmental damage and disruption of public health.

"The Ministry of Environment will immediately present experts to carry out the mandate of Article 87 of Law 32 of 2009," said Hanif.

The legal effort, according to him, was carried out to ensure the protection of public rights as well as to be a lesson for the management of high-risk industries at the national level.

Previously, on Saturday (31/1), a thick yellow-brown cloud of smoke suspected to have come from a gas leak at the PT Vopak Merak Terminal chemical storage plant caused residents of Cikuasa, Gerem Village, Grogol District, Cilegon City, Banten, to panic.

The sudden appearance of smoke and the pungent smell caused a number of residents to experience health disorders in the form of dizziness, nausea, and vomiting, so they had to receive medical treatment at the Pulomerak Health Center.

Based on data from the Cilegon City Environment Service, the results of the air quality laboratory test on Sunday (1/2) at 08.48 WIB showed that the oxygen level was recorded at 20.9 percent, still within the safe threshold with a lower limit of 19.5 percent and an upper limit of 23.5 percent.

Meanwhile, the measured hydrogen sulfide (H2S) level was 0.6 ppm, far below the lower limit of 10 ppm to the upper limit of 20 ppm. The carbon monoxide (CO) was recorded at 1.9 ppm, below the limit of 35-70 ppm.