ExxonMobil gas field catches fire after rebel attack
ExxonMobil gas field catches fire after rebel attack
BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Fire was raging in the early hours of
Saturday morning at a natural gas field belonging to U.S. energy
giant Exxon Mobil Oil Indonesia (EMOI) after it was allegedly
attacked by rebels, reports said here.
There were no immediate reports of casualties, but the fire,
which first broke out at about 1 a.m. at gas installation
"Cluster IV" in Lhoksukon, North Aceh, was put out by midday by
the company's fire brigade.
Sidick Nitikusuma, spokesman for state oil company Pertamina,
suspects the fire was sparked by a grenade attack by the Free
Aceh Movement (GAM) rebels.
A grenade thrown by the separatists exploded near a gas
extraction installation in Lhoksukon, he said.
North Aceh GAM commander Abu Sofyan Daud denied the
allegation, saying the fire was caused by the burning of used
tires.
Exxon spokeswoman Julia Tumengkol confirmed the fire in one of
Exxon's natural gas fields.
She said in Jakarta that she received reports that following a
gun fight in the area, Exxon's production facility, Cluster IV,
caught fire.
Julia could not confirm who was involved in the gun fight that
preceded the fire at Cluster IV.
Cluster IV is a gas collection facility where the gas is
processed before it is sent to the Arun natural gas liquefaction
plant.
"We can't tell you the extent of the damage as we haven't sent
anybody down to check on it because of security reasons," she
told The Jakarta Post.
She added that the company expected to dispatch an inspection
team to the gas installation plant as soon as possible.
However, Julia said the incident might force the company to
review its strategy with regard to its operations at its
facilities in Aceh.
"There are some alternatives that we're discussing with
Pertamina, and we may have to change some them because of it (the
incident)," she said.
However, she declined to say whether these possible changes
were related to the time frame to resume operations.
Exxon is currently in discussion with Pertamina on a start-up
operation after the company suspended production for nearly a
month.
Last month, ExxonMobil suspended pumping natural gas in Aceh
amid clashes between security forces guarding the facility and
rebels. The company's foreign and local staff members have been
evacuated.
Terrorism against the company have concerned the U.S.
U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Robert S. Gelbard has called on
GAM members to stop acts of terrorism and threats against
employees of ExxonMobil Oil Indonesia.
Antara reported on Friday that Gelbard had met with GAM
representatives and asked them to stop the threats.
Indonesian security forces have dispatched three additional
infantry battalions to protect the company's facilities.
Spokesman for the police's Cinta Meunasah II Operation Adj.
Sr. Comr. Sad Harunantyo told The Jakarta Post by phone that the
police were still probing the case.
The GAM separatist group has been battling for an independent
homeland in the oil and gas rich province in the northern tip of
Sumatra since 1976.
Conflicts between GAM and security forces in Aceh have killed
no less than 300 people, mostly civilians, this year.
Meanwhile, Aceh's Teuku Umar Military Commander Col.
Syarifuddin Tippe was officially replaced on Saturday by Col.
Endang Suwarya.
The ceremony, led by Bukit Barisan Military Commander Maj.
Gen. IG. Purnawa, was held in Banda Aceh, capital of Aceh
province.
Syarifuddin will undergo training at the National Defense
Institute (Lemhanas) in Jakarta, Antara said.
There are two military resort commands overseeing Aceh's 13
regencies.
Teuku Umar Military Resort Command oversees eight
regencies/mayoralties, namely Banda Aceh, Aceh Besar, Sabang,
West Aceh, South Aceh, Simeulu, Aceh Singkil and Central Aceh.
While the Lilawangsa Military Resort Command oversees the
regencies of Pidie, North Aceh, Bireun, East Aceh and Central
Aceh. (bkm/50/edt)