Investigating The Burning Of The Balongan Refinery, Pertamina Boss Nicke Widyawati Involves Foreign Parties

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - PT Pertamina (Persero) is still investigating to find out the cause of the fire that occurred at the Balongan Refinery, Indramayu, West Java, on March 29. Later, the investigation team will consist of experts from within and outside the country.

PT Pertamina President Director Nicke Widyawati said the cause of the fire was not yet known, because the investigation was still being carried out. He said, the investigation was delayed because there was a follow-up fire.

"At the beginning we had succeeded in extinguishing the fire but two days later it appeared a little because there was fuel trapped underneath," he said at a hearing with Commission VII DPR, Monday, April 5.

After a follow-up fire, said Nicke, his party immediately carried out a cooling process. As long as the condition is still considered dangerous, Pertamina has not yet been able to start investigating. For this reason, after conditions are declared safe, the investigation team can move on to the location.

Furthermore, Nicke said that this investigation team is a joint team from internal and external. External parties consist of law enforcement officials and a team of experts from within and outside the country.

"An investigation is still being carried out. Combined internal and external. We are opening the widest possible space for the investigation team to enter," he said.

As is known, four fuel tanks at Pertamina's Balongan Refinery caught fire on March 29 in the early hours of the morning. Pertamina has confirmed that there is a potential loss of production of 400,000 barrels due to the non-operation of the Balongan Refinery for some time to come.