Illegal Oil Well Closed

An integrated government team in South Sumatra province closed 17 illegal oil wells in the working area of ​​Pertamina EP in Babat Toman Sub-district, Musi Banyuasin Regency, Tuesday (21/11). This closure is the last stage of the operation of 104 illegal oil wells closure last year.

This is to secure state assets and minimize the risk of exploding illegal wells. Public Relations Manager of Pertamina EP, Muhammad Baron, contacted from Palembang, explaining the illegal well control is done in a number of Pertamina EP work areas. The closure is done by an integrated team consisting of elements of South Sumatera Provincial Government.

Musi Banyuasin District Government, SKK Migas Sumatra Part Selatab and Pertamina EP and police and the Indonesian National Army (TNI) based on South Sumatera Governor Decree Number 713 / KPTS / DESDM / 2017 The first phase closure was conducted in November 2016.

There are 70 illegal old wells that are closed. Next, April 2012 17 illegal oil wells are closed. Last yesterday (11/21/2017), 17 more wells will be closed.

"Thus, all illegal wells in the Pertamina EP area have been curbed," Baron said.

According to Baron, all old wells that are still in production are handed over by state to Pertamina to be managed.

"The well is a suspended status (suspended) where at any time can be used to be managed," he said.

Difficult to monitor

So far, people use the oil wells because the location of the well is near the settlement. However, the location of the well away from the highway is difficult to observe.

To ensure no more illegal mining of old wells has been curbed, Baron said, it would coordinate with local security forces to patrol regularly.

"In addition, socialization continues to be done to make people aware that the well is a state asset," he said.

Head of Mining and Energy Resources of Mineral Resources (ESDM) South Sumatra Robert Heri said the activities of old miners of old well or illegal oil drilling is often the case in Musi Banyuasin.

The provincial government noted, there are at least 350 old wells and illegal oil drilling in Musi Banyuasin. Activity that has occurred continuously after the Dutch colonial period in Indonesia.

As a result of illegal mining, the last year occurred three times the explosion of illegal wells in Musi Banyuasin Regency. The explosion resulted in Iuka's victim, even dead. Therefore, the government decided to close the illegal wells. In addition, illegal mining does not increase the cash revenue of the local government.

In addition to Musi Banyuasin, illegal oil well closing is planned to be carried out by the government in the regency of Penukal Abab Lematang Ilir, Musi Rawas, and Musi Rawas Utara.

IN INDONESIA

Sumur Minyak Ilegal Ditutup

Tim terpadu pemerintah di Provinsi Sumatera Selatan menutup 17 sumur minyak ilegal di Wilayah kerja Pertamina EP di Kecamatan Babat Toman, Kabupaten Musi Banyuasin, Selasa (21/11). Penutupan ini merupakan tahap terakhir dari operasi penutupan 104 sumur minyak ilegal yang berlangsung setahun terakhir.

Hal ini untuk mengamankan aset negara dan meminimalkan risiko meledaknya sumur ilegal. Manajer Humas Pertamina EP Muhammad Baron dihubungi dari Palembang, menjelaskan penertiban sumur ilegal dilakukan di sejumlah area kerja Pertamina EP. Penutupan dilakukan tim terpadu yang terdiri dari unsur Pemerintah Provinsi Sumatera Selatan. 

Pemerintah Kabupaten Musi Banyuasin, SKK Migas Sumatra Bagian Selatab dan Pertamina EP Serta kepolisian dan Tentara Nasional Indonesia (TNI) berdasarkan Surat Keputusan Gubernur Sumatera Selatan Nomor 713/KPTS/DESDM/2017 Penutupan tahap pertama dilakukan pada November 2016.

Ada 70 sumur tua ilegal yang ditutup. Selanjutnya, April 2012 17 sumur minyak ilegal ditutup. Terakhir kemarin (21/11/2017), 17 sumur lagi akan ditutup. 

”Dengan demikian, semua sumur ilegal di area Pertamina EP sudah ditertibkan,” ujar Baron.

Menurut Baron, semua sumur tua yang masih berproduksi diserahkan negara kepada Pertamina untuk dikelola. 

”Sumur itu berstatus suspended (ditangguhkan) di mana sewaktu-waktu dapat digunakan untuk dikelola,” katanya.

Sulit dipantau

Selama ini masyarakat memanfaatkan sumur-sumur minyak tersebut karena Iokasi sumur berada di dekat permukiman penduduk. Namun, Iokasi sumur jauh dari jalan raya sehingga sulit terpantau.

Untuk memastikan tidak ada lagi penambangan ilegal pada sumur-sumur tua yang telah ditertibkan, menurut Baron, pihaknya akan melakukan koordinasi dengan aparat keamanan setempat untuk melakukan patroli secara berkala.

”Selain itu, sosialisasi terus didilakukan untuk menyadarkan masyarakat bahwa sumur tersebut merupakan aset negara,” ujarnya.

Kepala Dinas Pertambangan dan Energi Sumber Daya Mineral (ESDM) Sumatera Selatan Robert Heri mengatakan, aktivitas penambang sumur tua atau pengeboran minyak secara ilegal memang kerap terjadi di Musi Banyuasin. 

Pemerintah Provinsi mencatat, setidaknya ada 350 sumur tua dan pengeboran minyak ilegal di Musi Banyuasin. Aktivitas itu sudah terjadi secara terus menerus setelah masa penjajahan kolonial Belanda di Indonesia.

Akibat penambangan ilegal, setahun terakhir terjadi tiga kali ledakan sumur ilegal di Kabupaten Musi Banyuasin. Ledakan mengakibatkan korban Iuka, bahkan tewas. Oleh karena itu, pemerintah memutuskan menutup sumur ilegal. Selain itu, penambangan ilegal tidak menambah pendapatan kas pemerintah daerah setempat.

Selain di Musi Banyuasin, penutupan sumur minyak ilegal direncanakan akan dilakukan pemerintah di Kabupaten Penukal Abab Lematang Ilir, Musi Rawas, dan Musi Rawas Utara. 

Kompas, Page-22, Wednesday, Nov 22, 2017