Worker killed in Pertamina's fire

West Java police confirmed that a heavy vehicle operator was killed in a fire ravaging a pipeline of PT Pertamina near a roadside of the Padalarang-Buah Batu Toll Road KM 130 near Bandung city Tuesday. The heavy vehicle operator might have unwittingly hit the Pertamina pipeline while working on the construction process of the Jakarta-Bandung speed train project, West Java Police Chief Inspector General Rudy Sufahriadi told journalists.

"Pertamina's firefighters have been attempting to extinguish the fire," he said, adding that the operator's name was probably Li Xuangfeng.

His body had not yet been traced, he said.

Meanwhile, firefighters were attempting to extinguish the fire in the pipeline that supplies Pertamina Dex diesel fuel from the Ujung Berung Terminal to Padalarang, West Java, state-owned oil and gas holding company Pertamina revealed in its press statement.

The fuel supplies were temporarily halted as firefighters focused on putting out the fire.

Despite this accident, Pertamina ensured that the fuel stocks in Bandung and its outskirts remained sufficient.

The company authorities are still investigating the cause and apologized for the inconvenience to the public.

Pertamina has repeatedly experienced fires at its oil well sites and pipelines this year.

In July, it experienced an oil spill from the YYA-1 well in the Pertamina Hulu Energi Offshore North West Java (PHE ONWJ) block in the offshore of the Java Sea.

Compensation was paid to inhabitants of the Karawang coastal area in West Java, particularly fishermen, who were affected by the oil spill from the YYA-1 well in the Pertamina Hulu Energi Offshore North West Java (PHE ONWJ) block, offshore of the Java Sea.

In July, a fire engulfed an oil well site in Seuneubok Dalam Village, Ranto Peureulak Sub-district, East Aceh District, Aceh Province, injuring two people.

The fire that occurred inside the working area of PT Pertamina EP (PEP) was related to illegal drilling activity, according to Avicenia Darwis, head of the Upstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Special Task Force's (SKK Migas') working unit for Northern Sumatra's areas.

The well was located inside the working area of PEP, an upstream subsidiary of state energy holding company Pertamina, in its joint operation scheme with Kawai Energi.

In April 2018, a deadly fire had engulfed a traditional oil well in Ranto Panjang Peureulak of East Aceh District, Aceh Province. The fire reportedly killed at least 18 people and injured 40 others. (INE)
Related news: Fire engulfs Pertamina pipeline near Padalarang toll roadside

EDITED BY INE