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)