Illegal Oil Well In East Aceh Residential Settlement Explodes, BPMA Waits For Investigation Result Of Trigger

Illegal oil well explosion in the residential area of Mata Ie Village, Ranto Peureulak District, East Aceh, Saturday (12/3/2022). (Antara/Syifa Yulinnas)

BANDA ACEH - An oil well in Mata Ie Village, Ranto Peureulak District, East Aceh, exploded, causing fire to vomit. The Aceh Oil and Gas Management Agency (BPMA) has not been able to conclude the cause of the incident.

BPMA Deputy for Business Support Afrul Wahyuni said that his party was still waiting for the team to go into the field. So far, there is no official investigation result.

"The source of the fire has not been confirmed positively from where, it is suspected to have come from the area of the well. But the exact source of the fire has not yet been officially investigated," said Afrul Wahyuni in Banda Aceh, Saturday, March 12, quoted from Antara.

Afrul said that after the explosion last night, the conditions at the scene had been secured and the oil well was under control after being extinguished at around 03.00 WIB this morning.

Afrul said, regarding this incident, BPMA has established active communication with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources through the Director General, SKK Migas Sumbagut, Directorate of Technical and Environmental Oil and Gas, and PT Medco for the response.

"Currently BPMA continues to monitor the impact of the fire and continues to coordinate with the center. Hopefully this incident will not happen again," he said.

On this occasion, Afrul said, the explosion of the East Aceh oil well was not the first incident, but has also happened in various other areas in Indonesia.

"The government continues to look for solutions to cases like this, and also pays attention to illegal drilling," said Afrul.

In addition, said Afrul, this oil well has also been the income of the local community since a dozen years ago. Therefore, this is also a homework for the government to find a solution.

Previously, one of the oil wells in the Mata Ie Village area, Ranto Peureulak District, East Aceh Regency exploded and caused a huge fire at around 23.10 WIB, Friday 11 March.

The exploding oil well has been traditionally managed by the community. However, the well is also in the working area of PT Pertamina EP.