JAKARTA - Member of Commission VII DPR RI, Rofik Hananto, asked the government to stop the operational activities of PT Sorik Marapi Geothermal Power (SMGP) which was suspected of experiencing gas leaks, causing 79 residents to be poisoned. He also called for an investigation into this gas leak case.
Previously, PT SMGP, which operates in Mandailing Natal, North Sumatra, had been proposed to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to revoke its operating permit.
"Fraksi PKS meminta agar kegiatan operasional PT SMGP segera dihentikan sambil dilakukan penyelidikan oleh pihak yang berwenang. Kali ini pemerintah harus serius, karena kejadian ini sudah terselian kali. Bahkan, pada kejadian sebelumnya sudah menempuhkan jiwa," ujarnya dalam keterangan resmi, Kamis 29 September.
Commission VII of the DPR RI last April recommended the Director General of EBTKE of the Indonesian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to revoke the operating permit of PT SMGP considering that there is toxic hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas in its gas wells.
"Heran juga sampai saat ini belum ada peningkatan dari sisi keamanan. Health and safety standard-nya sangat buruk. Ini, kan, sudah menyangkut SOP dan kebijakan keselamatan. Direksi harus bertanggung jawab ini," imbuhnya.
Rofik assessed that the government's sensitivity was very low in evaluating and improving work conditions. When a violation of operating procedures (SOP) is found, there must be strict sanctions. Human safety must come first. There is no compromise when it comes to human life. This tragedy, he continued, is a dark cloud for the development of new energy and renewable energy (EBET) in Indonesia.
"Ironically, we are boosting so that this EBET increases. Moreover, at this time the EBET Bill will soon be discussed between the DPR and the government," he said.
Just so you know, the gas leak from PT SMGP occurred on Tuesday, September 27, at around 18.00 WIB. As a result of the incident, 79 people were poisoned. A total of 71 of them are being treated at the Panyabungan Hospital and Permata Madina Hospital and 8 others are undergoing outpatient treatment.
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