Access to refinery silts up

JAKARTA (JP): The waterway to the fuel harbor of state oil and gas company Pertamina in Cilacap, Central Java has silted up over the past several years, hampering ships from leaving the harbor, a Pertamina official said on Monday.

Spokesman for Pertamina's Cilacap refinery, Husni Banser, said the bottom of the waterway was covered with 2.2 million cubic meters of mud and was increasing by between 800 and 900 cubic meters per year.

He said Pertamina routinely removed the mud with dredging machines every year but the state company canceled dredging the waterway for two years due to financial constraints.

He said Pertamina should spend Rp 11 billion to remove the 2.2 million cubic meters of mud.

Husni warned ships could run aground while passing through the waterway. (45/jsk)