The South Sumatra Provincial Government Forms A Team To Accelerate The Handling Of Illegal Oil Mining

South Sumatra Governor Herman Deru (center) and Director General of Oil and Gas of the Indonesian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Tutuka Ariaoji/ANTARA HO

PALEMBANG - The South Sumatra Provincial Government formed a team to accelerate the handling and control of illegal oil mining activities that are widely operating in the local area.

South Sumatra Governor Herman Deru said the team would later consist of representatives from the Energy and Mineral Resources Service (ESDM), TNI, Polri, and district/city governments.

In fact, to maximize the performance of the team, the South Sumatra Provincial Government will involve representatives from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and agencies that deal with oil and gas problems at the central level.

Herman said membership and division of tasks in the team to accelerate the handling and control of illegal oil mines had been discussed in a coordination meeting with the central government.

The coordination meeting chaired by the Director General of Oil and Gas at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Prof. Tutuka Ariaoji took place in Palembang, Monday (12/6), and was attended by regents/mayors, including Acting Regent Musi Banyuasin Apriyadi.

"From the meeting, it is hoped that this team agreement will be ready to carry out its duties later after receiving the governor's decree (SK) which will be issued soon," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, June 13.

The governor hopes that the formation of a team like this can be a solution to overcome the problem of illegal oil mining activities in South Sumatra that have been chronic.

The team will later be charged with several aspects of activities that focus on efforts to preserve the environment, the safety of the community's lives, and the community's economy.

This is done because illegal oil mining activities are carried out by the community by utilizing old crude wells that are no longer productive and abandoned by oil and gas companies, and there is even a new well opening.

"This means that it also discusses livelihoods. So, it must also be considered how the community will be able to meet their family's needs without neglecting matters of life safety and environmental conservation," said Herman Daru.

The South Sumatra Provincial Government noted illegal oil mining activities spread across several districts, including North Musi Rawas, Muara Enim, Penukal Abab Lematang Ilir, and Musi Banyuasin. From these areas, Musi Banyuasin Regency is the district with the most illegal oil well activities found.

Based on the results of a mapping carried out by the South Sumatra Regional Police and the South Sumatra Upstream Oil and Gas Business Activity Implementing Unit (SKK Migas), currently there are approximately 7,754 illegal oil wells spread across several sub-districts in Musi Banyuasin Regency.

From the mapping, around 230 thousand residents of Musi Banyuasin were also obtained who were involved in illegal oil well mining activities.

The number of illegal oil wells in Musi Banyuasin Regency as of August 2022 actually increased compared to the previous year which amounted to 5,482 wells.

In fact, in 2021, the South Sumatra Regional Police have closed as many as 1,000 illegal oil wells in the oil and gas-producing district.

"Seeing the importance of this effort, the Director General of Oil and Gas at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of the Republic of Indonesia, Tutuka Ariaoji, suggested to the Governor and the South Sumatra Police Chief to report this issue to the Minister of Political, Legal and Security Affairs or the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment so that the handling is maximized," said Herman.