Chemical firm told to close warehouse

Chemical firm told to close warehouse

JAKARTA (JP): The West Jakarta mayor has ordered the management of PT Agung Kimia Jaya Mandiri chemical company to close its warehouse in West Jakarta following a spate of protests by area residents over pollution and explosions.

The head of security affairs of the mayoralty, Karsidin, said yesterday that the mayor made the decision following a big explosion on Sunday which injured 15 residents and damaged 27 houses.

"The governor has agreed to close down the warehouse because of the residents' protests over the effects of pollution on their health and the danger of chemical leaks," Karsidin said.

He added that the company is also obliged to pay the medical costs of people injured in the explosion and the repairs of the houses destroyed.

The spacious warehouse, which is located in Kedaung Kali Angke, West Jakarta, is used to store chemical substances such as Sodium nitrate, Sulfate Heptahydrate, KC1 Ammonium Chlorate, Potassium Carbonate, Sodium and Soda ash.

Karsidin said that its location in the suburb not only threatens the health and safety of the area residents.

"It is even more risky because the place is situated only 200 meters from the ammunition warehouse," he said.

He said previous chemical leaks from the containers with chemical substances have resulted in air and water pollution.

The first case happened in 1985, when a chemical leak caused local people breathing problems.

A study conducted by the mayoralty in 1994 revealed that another leak caused water pollution in which the color of water in the local wells turned yellow and caused skin irritations. (03)