Indonesian state-owned energy giant Pertamina took over the responsibility for an oil spill off Balikpapan, which caused a fatal fire, on 31st of March. The company had initially denied involvement on the incident, but it said Wednesday that the spill was caused by an underwater pipeline that cracked during its clean up operations.
The spill started on Saturday and sparked a fire that has killed four people so far. Several fishing vessels were at the scene on Saturday and some fishermen were caught in the blaze. The bulk carrier ‘Ever Judger’ was also anchored at the time of the incident, but all of its crew was successfully evacuated. The ship reportedly sustained some damage.
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Togar MP, general manager of Pertamina’s refinery in Balikpapan, was quoted as saying by Reuters that one of the company’s underwater pipes, used for transporting crude oil, was found broken, due to “external factors”. The pipeline runs between Pertamina Refinery Unit 5 and a crude oil terminal in Lawe-lawe.
Initial estimations by the company on Sunday suggested the leaked oil was marine oil used in boats, but now it is confirmed tit was crude oil. The exact volume of the leak and the impact on marine life are yet to determined. However, masses of crude oil are depicted spread across the ocean. According to phys.org, one endangered Irrawaddy dolphin has washed ashore dead.
It is also unknown of the pipeline has been repaired.
Balikpapan declared a state of emergency on Monday, warning residents to stay away from the coast, as the area was prone to fires.
