"We have served a verbal warning on Pertamina RU II for the black smoke coming out of a residue disposal chimney . Pertamina had claimed the thick smoke was caused by a damaged disposal tool," said Basri, the head of Dumai`s Environment Office, here Monday.
Basri said the thick smoke might contain carbon dioxide and affect the environment and local people`s health if it exceeded the analysis impact limit.
The explanation from the state-owned oil company, he added, would be checked and compared with the reality in the field.
"The result will show whether or not there was a violation of mitigation provision on environmental impact," he said.
People in Dumai especially those living around the refinery were worried about the black thick smoke from the disposal chimney of Pertamina RU II.
"We are afraid of health disorders because of the smoke since it is not only black but also morbidly thick," Hardi, a local resident, said here Monday.
Jhohan, another local resident, hoped Pertamina could assure the local community that the smoke would not have any adverse impact on people`s health and the environment.
"This is necessary because people are becoming increasingly worried," he said.(*)
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
