Caltex operations unaffected by haze<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The haze problem does not affect the operation
\nof Riau-based PT Caltex Pacific Indonesia, the country's largest
\ncrude oil producer, says an executive.<\/p>\n
Deputy vice president in charge of Pertamina's foreign
\ncontractor-venture development, Sungarna Sukandar, said yesterday
\nthat operations in Caltex's oil fields in Riau continued despite
\nthe haze problem.<\/p>\n
He said the company could still maintain a production level of
\n758,000 barrels of crude oil per day.<\/p>\n
The forest fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan, which started in
\nMay, have caused a serious haze problem not only on the two
\nislands but also in the neighboring countries of Singapore and
\nMalaysia.<\/p>\n
Caltex, which produces half of the country's total oil
\nproduction, has reportedly evacuated many sick workers and their
\nfamilies to safe areas outside Riau due to the haze.<\/p>\n
The company, which is co-owned by U.S. giant oil companies
\nChevron Corp and Texaco Inc, currently operates oil fields in
\nRokan, Siak, Coastal Plain and Kuantan, all in Riau.<\/p>\n
Sungarna said although flights to Simpang Tiga Airport in
\nRiau's capital of Pekanbaru had stopped for a few weeks, Caltex
\ncould still obtain necessary materials for its operation from
\nBatam island.<\/p>\n
\"Thus far, there is no problem with sea transportation linking
\nRiau's seaport of Dumai to Batam. So materials for Caltex's
\noperations can be supplied through Batam,\" Sungarna said.<\/p>\n
The distribution of crude oil from Caltex's oil fields also
\nremained undisturbed by the haze, Sungarna said.<\/p>\n
\"The crude oil is piped to the Dumai seaport, where it is
\npicked up by tankers and shipped abroad,\" he explained at a
\ndiscussion on an oil-spill contingency plan.<\/p>\n
The discussion was held yesterday to think of measures for the
\nhandling of oil spills caused by a collision involving oil
\ntankers.<\/p>\n
A deputy at the Environmental Impact Management Agency
\n(Bapedal) P.L. Coutrier, said the discussion was held due to the
\nhaze. He said if it got worse, it could endanger sea
\ntransportation and increase the risk of oil tankers crashing into
\nother ships. (jsk)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/caltex-operations-unaffected-by-haze-1447893297",
"image": ""
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