Pertamina compensates residents

JAKARTA: State oil company Pertamina paid Rp 135 million (US$16,071) in compensation to residents of Kramat subdistrict, Central Jakarta, for environmental damages caused by a suspected leak in the underground storage tank of a gasoline station on Jl. Kramat Raya.

The leaked fuel has polluted water wells in houses in community units 5 and 7 in the subdistrict.

Pertamina spokesman Awi Adil said over the weekend that the money would cover water pipe installation from city water operator PD PAM Jaya to 52 connection points, two months' worth of water purchased from private vendors amounting to Rp 150,000 per family per month, three months' worth of water from the water company and the installation of electric water pumps to replace the households' manual water pumps.

The agreement also includes Pertamina's obligation to repair the leak in the gas station's storage tank, after which a hydrostatic test must be conducted by the City Environmental Management Agency (BPLHD). -- Antara