Sunday, 10 April 2022 | 10:30
Arfi Bambani
Illustration: Black oil waste in Batam Beach. (Photo: Batam City Government)

TheIndonesia.id - State-owned oil and gas firm PT Pertamina will distribute social assistance to residents affected by the fuel spill around the waters of the Ternate fuel terminal dock. Pertamina has received data on 70 families from Fitu and Sasa villages who are eligible for the social assistance, unit manager of communication relations and CSR of Pertamina Regional Papua-Maluku, Edi Mangun, informed in Ternate, North Maluku, on Saturday, April 9, 2022.

Initially, the assistance distribution will be conducted through a single channel, which is through the local administration such as village heads, village affiliated non-commissioned officers (Babinsa), and Security and Law enforcement officials at the local level (Bhabinkamtibmas). Based on a report, the villages affected by the fuel spill are Jambula, Kastela, Sasa, Gambesi, and Fitu, Mangun said.

According to him, Pertamina is still waiting for data from other villages, especially residents living near the waters of Jambula and its surrounding areas. He emphasized that Pertamina will prioritize the affected residents and fishing groups located in the Pertamina Ternate area.

"Pertamina will distribute various social assistance in the form of healthy food and advise people affected by the fuel spill to check their health at the local health center, and Pertamina will help solve it," Mangun informed.

He said the mechanism regarding resolving the impact of pollution due to the fuel spill will follow the provisions of law.

In addition, the Environment Offices of Ternate city and North Maluku province have taken samples for two days from the waters around Jambula, with Pertamina fully supporting the teams, Mangun highlighted.
Pertamina will be responsible for the fuel spill, as the environment offices have conducted laboratory examinations outside Ternate, he stressed.
Pertamina will follow any recommendations for solving the issue of pollution, he said.