PT Pindo Deli Gas Toxic Incidents There Have Been Repeated Times

Head of the Environment and Hygiene Division of Karawang, Wawan Setiawan

KARAWANG - The incident of dozens of residents around PT Pindo Deli Pulp and Paper Mills II who were poisoned due to production problems at the caustic soda plant, was not the first time this had happened.

"The incident of gas poisoning experienced by residents around PT Pindo Deli occurred repeatedly, according to our data, four times that incident," said Head of the Karawang Environment and Hygiene Office, Wawan Setiawan in Karawang, Tuesday, September 20, quoted from Antara.

Last Wednesday, September 14, dozens of residents of Cigempol Village, Karawang were taken to Rosela Hospital after experiencing klorin gas poisoning from PT Pindo Deli Pulp and Paper Mills II.

Previously, a similar incident or factory gas poisoning experienced by residents due to problems at the caustic soda plant PT Pindo Deli II occurred in December 2017, May 2018 and June 2021.

The Karawang Environment and Hygiene Service has imposed administrative sanctions on PT Pindo Deli in December 2017, May 2018 and June 2021.

However, said Wawan, it is unfortunate that a similar incident occurred again on September 14, 2022.

According to him, the cause of the factory gas poisoning incident experienced by residents during the four times was the same, namely due to production disturbances in the caustic soda plant PT Pindo Deli II, only the point of disruption was different.

He conveyed that in accordance with the results of verification in the field, the factory gas poisoning incident experienced by residents of Cigempol Village on September 14, 2022 due to the imperfect burning of the HCL hydrogen pump in the caustic soda plant PT Pindo Deli II.

Meanwhile, due to the repeated gas poisoning of the factory experienced by residents, the Karawang Regency Government will recommend a long-term solution for PT Pindo Deli II.

The long-term solution will be stated in a letter of agreement with legal force, witnessed by the Kejari and Polres Karawang. The agreement letter also contains a recommendation from the district government which must be carried out by PT Pindo Deli II.

The signing of the long-term handling agreement for the factory gas poisoning incident was carried out on Wednesday (21/9).

The Karawang Regency Government, West Java recommended that PT Pindo Deli Pulp and Paper Mills II relocate.

"We will immediately issue a number of recommendations for Pindo Deli regarding the factory gas poisoning incident experienced by residents," said Karawang Regent Cellica Nurrachadiana yesterday.

Cellica stated that the recommendations to be issued are now being finalized, so that the decision is based on justice, both for the local community and the company.

"This (factor gas poisoning incident) experienced by residents has happened many times, it has happened four times. It cannot be silenced. So there must be a long-term solution," said the regent.

Among the long-term solutions that will be recommended by the district government to PT Pindo Deli II is to relocate. This means that residents have been relocated to a safer place or company that has been relocated.

"When it comes to relocating residents, I'm sure it can be done by Pindo Deli II. It uses company money from the CSR program. This should be a concern, because we want a long-term solution," said Cellica.

Residents living around factories who are at high risk of being exposed to factory gas pollution resulting in poisoning have 204 families. Those who have the right to be relocated so that their health can be maintained.

Another recommendation that will be submitted is to bear the payment of BPJS Kesehatan for residents. Because the company cannot guarantee that similar incidents do not occur in the future.

In addition, the regent also ensured that currently, PT Pindo Deli's caustic soda plant was stopped first until repairs were made.