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.