"Illegal drilling could reduce the state oil production, losses in state income and damage to the environment," senior staff of SKK Migas for southern Sumatra Haswanto Jaya said in Bangka Belitung on Thursday.
In a media gathering with the Jambi Oil and Gas Journalist Forum (FJM), Haswanto said there are a number of illegal activities including illegal mining that badly hurt the state assets.
"In Jambi for example, illegal drilling and ilegal mining are rampant by individuals or group of people and private plantation companies," he said.
He hopes that police would act firmly against all illegal drilling and mining.
Based on data from southern Sumatra office of SKK Migas, illegal drilling is rampant in the regency of Sarolangun in Jambi. Around 110 illegal well were closed in that district on December 21 in 2016. In May, 2017, 22 illegal wells were also closed the regency of Batanghari.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2017
