"Pertamina has involved all fishermen in Sedari Emong Village, and all tools needed to clean up the oil and oily waste, including shovels, plastic bags, sacks, and face masks, are provided by Pertamina," Sunarya told journalists here on Sunday.
The participating fishermen were paid by the gas and oil company for cleaning up the affected coastal areas, he said.
"When the fishermen cannot go fishing, Pertamina involves them in this cleaning-up effort," Sunarya said.
Pertamina does not only involve local fishermen in the cleaning-up activities but it has pledged to compensate the inhabitants of the Karawang coastal area in West Java, particularly fishermen, who have been affected by the oil spill.
The Kerawang and Bekasi waters in West Java Province had been affected by the 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.
As a result, local fishermen could not catch fish due to the oil spill, hence they were asked to help clean the waters.
PT Pertamina has been investigating the cause of gas released from the YYA-1 well in West Java that led to the oil spill.
Pertamina has mobilized 27 ships and 12 sets of oil boom to handle the environmental impact, and in cooperation with the Indonesian Navy and the Maritime Police, it deployed seven patrol boats to ensure no fishermen conduct fishing activities in the area.
Last week, Pertamina in its statement said that it halted operations and removed workers from a gas drilling platform in the Offshore North West Java (ONWJ) block because of a dangerous well kick.
The well kick occurred in the re-activated YYA-1, located beneath the PHE ONWJs offshore platform two kilometers north of Karawang.
Translator: M.Ali K, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Bambang Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
