Riau Police Name New Suspect For Pertamina Dumai Refinery Explosion

The condition of the Gas Compresor Area after the explosion and fire incident at PT KPI RU II Dumai, which is currently undergoing recovery efforts. (ANTARA/HO-PT KPI RU II)

The Directorate of General Criminal Investigation of the Riau Regional Police has again named a new suspect in the case of the Pertamina International Refinery (KPI) Refinery Unit II Dumai explosion, namely a Pertamina official with the initials RH.

Riau Police Criminal Investigation Director Kombes Asep Darmawan said RH served as the Jr Engineer II Stationery Inspection KPI RU II Dumai.

Investigators had sent a summons to RH on Tuesday (24/10), but asked for a postponement of the examination.

"Next week we will schedule it again. Earlier I asked investigators to recall. So, we'll wait for whether it comes or not," Asep said as quoted by ANTARA, Friday, October 27.

Previously, two contractors with the initials IR and W had also been named as suspects in the explosion of KPI RU II Dumai which occurred on April 1, 2023. His position as the executor of the demolition work in the area which was suspected of leaking and exploding.

"The two suspects are on duty in the field of personnel checks or pipe thickness," he said.

Previously, there was a loud bang accompanied by strong vibrations coming from the seven Pertamina RU II Dumai Women's Oil Refinery, Saturday, April 1, 2023, at around 22.40 WIB. The explosion and fire resulted in five workers being injured.

The fire and explosion are strongly suspected of negligence in maintenance. The cause of the leak is suspected to be due to corrosion in the hydrogen channel pipe.

In the process of working, pipes that have been isolated with calcium silicate should be locked to minimize the entry of water.

As a result of the explosion, buildings around refineries and public facilities, such as mosques and schools, were also damaged.