Environment Ministry Seals PT BPE Following Public Complaints
The Deputy for Environmental Law Enforcement (GAKKUM LH) of the Ministry of Environment has sealed PT BPE, a used oil utilisation factory in Ciakar Village, Panongan District, Tangerang Regency, Banten, following up on public complaints about a pungent odour. Officers found that the industry, which collects and utilises hazardous and toxic waste (B3), is strongly suspected of causing serious air pollution and managing waste without holding valid operational feasibility permits.
Deputy GAKKUM LH Rizal Irawan stated in a written release in Jakarta on Saturday that he personally led the sealing of PT BPE at the site. From the inspection results, he said PT BPE processes used oil into Chemical Diesel Oil (CDO) with an installed production capacity of 450,000 to 500,000 litres per month on a 2,773 square metre plot of land.
He added that the company was proven to have committed fatal violations in its operational execution, despite being recorded as holding an Environmental Impact Analysis (AMDAL) document and an environmental permit from the Banten Provincial Government. “From the inspection results, a number of serious violations were found. First, PT BPE was proven not to possess a Technical Approval (Pertek) and an Operational Feasibility Letter (SLO) for the activity of utilising B3 waste from used lubricant with waste code B105d into diesel oil,” Rizal Irawan asserted.
In addition to lacking the operational feasibility permit, he added that on-site violations showed the emission chimney from the factory’s distillation process was not equipped with air emission control devices. To prove the level of odour, the KLH/BPLH team took samples at one ambient air point and two odour test points, namely directly at the source location and in the Citra Raya Cluster Faenza residential area.
Not only polluting the air, officers also discovered illegal dumping of B3 waste in the company’s backyard without a permit, including bottom ash, oil residue, and used absorbents. This environmental crime was compounded by the finding of runoff water contaminated with used lubricant, flowing freely without treatment into a swamp area behind the business site, indicating surface water pollution.
“Based on these findings, PT BPE is suspected of violating three articles of Law Number 32 of 2009 concerning Environmental Protection and Management (UUPPLH). We will apply sanctions and environmental law enforcement against the company in accordance with applicable regulations,” Rizal Irawan stressed. This firm sealing action serves as proof that KLH/BPLH will not compromise with business actors who damage the environment.