Govt beefs up security at energy firms in Aceh
Govt beefs up security at energy firms in Aceh
A'an Suryana and Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post,
Jakarta
The government is tightening security measures at energy plants
operating in Aceh, in anticipation of attacks by separatist
rebels following the start of the operation to restore order in
the province.
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro
said additional troops had been sent to several energy plants,
including giant oil and gas producer ExxonMobil Oil in
Lhokseumawe, to protect both the company's operations and
employees.
"At least one battalion of marines has been deployed to help
secure the operations of the energy firm," Purnomo told reporters
here, referring to American-firm ExxonMobil Oil.
The situation in Aceh was tense on Monday after peace talks in
Tokyo between the Indonesian government and rebel Free Aceh
Movement (GAM) faltered, prompting the government to impose
martial law in the province.
On Monday, the Indonesian military (TNI) began attacking the
rebels in some parts of Aceh.
Securing operations of the energy firms, considered vital
objects by the government, is deemed mandatory.
Energy firms and other vital operations in Aceh include,
ExxonMobil Oil, natural gas liquefaction company PT Arun NGL and
fertilizer companies PT Pupuk Iskandar Muda and PT Aceh ASEAN
Fertilizer.
The government has interests in securing operations of the
energy firms as they contribute a lot of money to the country.
From ExxonMobil Oil alone, for example, the government earns
around US$1 billion per year.
Besides sending reinforcements to guard the energy firms and
other vital objects, security authorities have applied stricter
security procedures and conduct more frequent patrols.
"The troops guarding the energy firms are now being readied 24
hours at their own bases, and they are not allowed to go
elsewhere," Maj. Gen. Mudakir, a high ranking military officer
assigned by Purnomo to supervise the security of Indonesian vital
objects nationwide, told The Jakarta Post.
For security reasons, Mudakir refused to spell out details on
how many troops were being deployed at the energy plants
operating in Aceh.
Mudakir said both police and military personnel were working
together to secure vital objects in Aceh.
While the vital infrastructure is being guarded by TNI troops,
the police are being assigned to secure local vital objects, such
as installations belonging to the state electricity company PT
PLN.
Despite the tense situation in Aceh, it is business as usual
at the energy firms, said Rachmat Sudibyo, the head of the Oil
and Gas Implementing Body (BP Migas).
BP Migas is the highest authority of upstream oil and gas in
the country.
The energy firms also have no plans as yet to evacuate their
employees as the situation has not turned ugly in Aceh.
"We have yet to hear any plans from the firms to evacuate
their staff," Rachmat, told the Post.