Military personnel to secure Arun gas field

Military personnel to secure Arun gas field

BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): More than 2,000 military personnel are
expected to be deployed along the 80-kilometer gas production and
distribution line of PT ExxonMobil Oil Indonesia in Lhok Sukon,
East Aceh, ahead of the giant gas company's plan to resume
operations later this month.

The commander of the military operation in Aceh Brig. Gen.
Zamroni told reporters in Lhokseumawe that the military personnel
would consist of joint military battalions currently assigned in
the strife-torn province.

"Three battalions will safeguard the 80-kilometer gas
production route surrounding the Arun gas field, in a bid to
support ExxonMobil's plan to resume operations," Zamroni said.

A battalion normally comprises 700 personnel.

Zamroni did not elaborate on the military battalions or when
the deployment would begin.

Earlier ExxonMobil announced that operations would resume at
the end of this month or early July.

The giant gas company completely halted its Arun operation in
mid-March reportedly due to heightened threats and intimidation
from armed groups, believed to be members of the separatist Free
Aceh Movement (GAM).

Aceh has been the site of prolonged violence with separatist
groups and security forces locked in almost daily clashes.
Thousands of people, mostly civilians, have been killed in the
violence.

Meanwhile in Jakarta, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources
Purnomo Yusgiantoro also said that he expects operations to begin
in phases starting in June.

He claimed that some 200 employees of the American-based
company had already returned to work.

He said the Indonesian government could understand the
apprehension of the company, hence their decision to resume
operations in phases.

"To resume full operations is not easy. It has to be in
phases, and the actual reserves in Aceh also have to be taken
into consideration," the minister said.(50/emf)