Local Government and Pertamina Added Verification Zone in Penajam Paser Utara
Local Government of Penajam Paser Utara District added a verification zone of the affected area of Balikpapan Bay oil spill. The addition is the result of discussion of Balikpapan Bay oil spill recovery grand strategy led by Regent of Penajam Paser Utara Yusran Aspar and attended by regional secretary of Penajam Paser Utara Tohar and representative of Pertamina on Friday (13/4).
Previously, Penajam Paser Utara was included in zone 4 that covered Penajam sub-district. Another three zone covered areas in Balikpapan City. Based on inpur from related agencies, it was decided to add zone 5 comprises of additional areas in Penajam sub-district and Sepaku sub-district which had not been included in the verification list yet.
Health, Security, and Environment Refinery Manager Pertamina J Prihartanto during a discussion with the Bupati PPU stated that one of the objectives of this discussion is to re-map oil spill affected areas that may not be monitored by Pertamina. Thus, the grand strategy can directly covered all affected areas in Penajam Paser Utara District.
"This is our commitment to recover all oil spill. Local government's support important to map the affected areas," Prihartanto said.
Prihartanto further explained there are three staged in Grand Strategy. First, verification of initial conditions. Second step is recovery strategy, then followed by post recovery verification. While working, the team will use a score card which will be signed when all team member reach an agreement. Some aspects that will be observed are visual condition, the level cleanliness, and completed with follow up columns.
Responding to the discussion held today, Regional Secretary Tohar stated that local government will provide assistance for Pertamina in order to accelerate the oil spill recovery process. Penajam Paser Utara Local Government has formed tast force comprises of Environment Agency, Fisheries Agency, and Village Heads from the affected areas. The task force divided into two teams, fisheries countermeasures team in charge of identifying the affected community in fisheries business (such as floating cages and fishermen) and environmental mitigation teams that are tasked with identifying the affected environmental and ecological business.
"This incident is a disaster. It is important to take a follow up step in solving this problem. I hope the verification team from Pertamina and the team that we have formed can immadiately go to the field," Tohar said.
The Regent of Penajam Paser Utara hope that Pertamina's effort to recover the oil spill can be accompanied with CSR programs, especially community capacity building.