Sabotage behind refinery blast?

Sabotage behind refinery blast?

JAKARTA (JP): Police on Wednesday ruled out the possibility of
sabotage in last Monday's explosion at a Pertamina refinery in
Balikpapan, East Kalimantan.

Supt. Faah Sumarno, spokesman for the East Kalimantan Police,
was quoted by Antara as saying that an investigation by a
forensic team from the National Police headquarters had concluded
that the blast was accidental.

The news agency, however, gave no detailed explanation.

The explosion and following fire injured two workers and cut
the refinery's output from 265,000 barrels to 245,000 barrels per
day.

Following the incident, Mines and Energy Minister Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono requested security authorities to investigate
the possibility of sabotage.

Pertamina spokesman F.F. Welan was quoted as saying that the
explosion was caused by a leak in one of the refinery's pipes.

Officials said that the oil refinery resumed operation on
Tuesday, although at only 65 percent of its capacity.

The hydroskimming unit of the refinery was built in 1982 and
started operation in 1984.

Pertamina inspects the unit every two years. The last check
was in December last year. (byg)