Oil spill hits Balikpapan beach

BALIKPAPAN, East Kalimantan: The local authority here announced on Friday that crude oil had been spilled along Balikpapan beach, raising fears that it could damage the environment and marine life in the area.

Chusnul Busro, from state oil and gas company PT Pertamina's Balikpapan Processing Unit, said it was unable to confirm as yet whether the oil had been spilled from oil tankers passing through the area or from oil rigs at sea.

Chusnul said that both Pertamina and the local government were attempting to resolve the problem. -- JP