SOE Minister Calls Buffer Zone Of Several Vital Objects Of SOEs Are Not Ideal

Plumpang Depot after the fire (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Erick Thohir said that a number of vital national objects managed by state-owned enterprises do not yet have an ideal buffer zone.

Therefore, said Erick, the initial process that will be carried out is to ensure the protection of residents around national vital objects. Currently, there are 651 vital objects managed by BUMN.

"I visited Pupuk Sriwidjaja Palembang two years ago during COVID-19, too close to the project (distance from the project), only 400 meters away. At Petrokimia Gresik it is even closer 250-310 meters, and even that is already below the good limit," he said in a meeting with Commission VI of the DPR, Monday, March 20.

Referring to the international standard, said Erick, the development of a buffer zone should ideally be 500 meters wide.

“Indeed, on average around the world it should be 500 meters from residents. In East Kalimantan it is still 800 meters," he said.

Erick said that with the condition of the Plumpang Depot, it was not possible to build a 500-meter buffer zone, so it was decided to build only 52.5 meters. The development is projected to spend IDR 368 billion.

"Especially the Plumpang depot is attached. Imagine there is a pipe, and next to it is the kitchen, which is viral. This means that there is no safety. If anything happened it is very dangerous. For the first step, like it or not, we have to create a buffer zone," he explained.

Regarding the construction of a buffer zone for national vital objects, Erick said that it requires the involvement of the local government.

"This (buffer zone development) is indeed an obstacle that it is impossible for us to work alone without the support of the local government," he said.