Leaking Gas In Sorik Marapi, Ministry Of Energy And Mineral Resources Deploys Investigation Team

Illustration of gas pipelines (photo: between)

The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has deployed a team of geothermal inspectors to conduct an investigation in connection with the alleged gas poisoning that befell the community in Sibanggor Julu Village, Mandailing Natal Regency, North Sumatra.

"The gas source that is smelled by the public cannot be identified as the type and source from the location of the well or from other places. For this reason, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources immediately dispatched a Team of Inspectors of Panas Bumi to coordinate and investigate the incident," said Head of the Communications, Public Information Service, and Cooperation (KLIK) of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Agus Cahyono Adi to the media, Friday, February 23.

Aca, Agus' nickname, said the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources had also ordered PT Sorik Marapi Geothermal Power (SMGP) operating in the area to temporarily suspend all activities at Wellpad V starting today.

The alleged gas poisoning incident that hit the community in Sibanggor Village, Julu, Mandailing Natal Regency, is suspected to be related to the activation of PT Sorik Marapi Geothermal Power (SMGP)'s V-01 junior high school well.

"SMP V-01 is the first well in well pad V, wellpad that has just been developed by PT SMGP. The distance between wellpad V and the closest settlement in Sibanggor Village is about 700 meters," continued Aca.

From the reports received, continued Aca, the well activation activity on Thursday, February 22 yesterday was carried out in accordance with Standard Operation Procedure (SOP) and involved village security equipment to guard locations that were considered critical. Previously, socialization had also been carried out with the community.