New security plans for ExxonMobil gas field<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo
\nYusgiantoro said on Wednesday that soldiers currently stationed
\nat the ExxonMobil gas field in Aceh would be redeployed to
\nperimeter duty to encourage the U.S.-based firm to resume
\noperations.<\/p>\n
Purnomo claimed that the removal of the soldiers was at the
\nrequest of ExxonMobil.<\/p>\n
\"Currently soldiers are located inside the gas clusters. To
\nmake the ExxonMobil employees feel comfortable about resuming
\nwork, the troops must be placed outside the clusters,\" Purnomo
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"The soldiers, however, must secure the compound from any
\ndisturbance while the employees perform their duties,\" the
\nminister told reporters after a meeting to discuss the suspension
\nof ExxonMobil's operations in Aceh.<\/p>\n
Senior government and military officials attended the meeting.
\nHowever, no ExxonMobil officials were present.<\/p>\n
Those attending the meeting at the Ministry of Defense
\nincluded Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Adm. Widodo A.S.,
\nTNI Chief of General Affairs Lt. Gen. Djamari Chaniago, deputy
\nminister for political, social and security affairs in charge of
\nsecurity affairs Ilyas Yusuf and state oil and gas company
\npresident Pertamina Baihaki Hakim.<\/p>\n
ExxonMobil last month suspended operations in Aceh over
\nsecurity concerns. The decision forced other major companies in
\nthe area, such as PT Arun NGL Co., to follow suit.<\/p>\n
The TNI has dispatched three battalions to guard ExxonMobil's
\ngas fields. An Army cavalry unit has also been dispatched to
\nguard security posts, gas installation sites and clusters of
\nstate gas company PT Arun NGL Co.<\/p>\n
Purnomo said ExxonMobil had asked the government to secure its
\nfacilities, both in and outside of the clusters, including a 30-
\nkilometer gas pipeline in North Aceh.<\/p>\n
\"Securing the pipeline is very important since it connects the
\ngas fields in Lhoksukon to Arun's refinery, fertilizer producing
\ncompany Asia Fertilizer and to paper producing company Kraft
\nPapers,\" Purnomo pointed out.<\/p>\n
Purnomo also said ExxonMobil had called on the government to
\nensure the security of employees, including their daily commute
\nto the compound and their residences.<\/p>\n
After examining the requests set forth by ExxonMobil, Purnomo
\nsaid the government felt \"there will be no (need for)
\nreinforcements\".<\/p>\n
Despite these conditions no date has yet been set for the
\nresumption of operations, since \"it will totally depend on
\ndevelopments there\".<\/p>\n
\"In the near future, the government will establish joint posts
\nwith the TNI, National Police, Ministry of Energy and Mineral
\nResources and other related ministries to monitor the fields and
\nprepare anything required for when the firm resumes operation,\"
\nPurnomo said.<\/p>\n
\"I also explained to the TNI chief that incidents and security
\ndisturbances in the area would affect production activities at
\nExxonMobil,\" Purnomo said.<\/p>\n
When asked about the TNI chief's response, Purnomo said: \"Pak
\nWidodo responded positively and admitted that the ExxonMobil case
\nhas impacted Indonesian foreign affairs.\"<\/p>\n
However, a series of attacks by alleged Free Aceh Movement
\n(GAM) rebels continued to rock the industrial regency of North
\nAceh.<\/p>\n
\"The latest blitz took place at police and military
\nsubdistrict offices in Jeunib on Tuesday,\" spokesman for the
\npolice's Cinta Meunasah II Operation, Adj. Sr. Comr. Sad
\nHarunantyo, said in a report made available to The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
The rebels reportedly used mortars to attack the two posts at
\nabout 6 a.m. on Tuesday. No casualties were reported.<\/p>\n
At about 11 p.m. on Tuesday, another attack occurred at the
\nPeusangan Military subdistrict office in North Aceh.<\/p>\n
\"The attackers missed as they fired from across the river, and
\nthe mortar exploded behind the Peusangan Military dormitory.
\nSecurity officers chased the assailants, but to no avail,\" the
\nofficer said.(edt\/02)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/new-security-plans-for-exxonmobil-gas-field-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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