The investigation can only be carried on after the fire is extinguished and our team has stated that the site is safe, but now we still cannot predict when the fire will put out by itselfCilacap, C Java (ANTARA News) - Fire fighters were on Saturday afternoon still unable to put out a fire that broke out at Tank 31 T-02 at Pertamina`s Refinery Unit IV, Cilacap, Central Java early in the morning.
The fire was still raging and slightly to decrease the quantity with high black smoke, strong wind on the area also worsen the attempt to extinguish the fire.
Pertamina Public Relations Section Head at the RU IV Cilacap Kurdi Susanto said that the company is yet to determine when the fire in the site will will be contained.
"The fire can only be extinguished after all of the tank`s content completely burnt, but the fire size has decreasing now," he said.
Kurdi said that the state run oil and gas company is still attempting to put out the fire by localizing kerosene tank which is located next to the burnt tank has been emptied
"Our tanks are equipped with automatic water spray extinguishing system to put out fire immediately," he said/
According Kurdi, the tank 31 T-02 contains of HOMC or High Octane Mogas Component that is used to increase the octane level on the premium gasoline.
The HOMC contained in the tank is only 60 percent of its full capacity of 10 thousand kilo liters, and the incident does not interrupt the site`s gasoline production that can reach up to 348 barrels per day.
"Our gasoline fuel stock is available for the next 22 days and the production line is still run regularly, in fact we still have three other HOMC tanks in other locations," he said.
The company itself has yet to announce the cause of the fire that is suspected to occurred at 04.55 local time, and leave all the details to the Central Java Police Forensic Team to be investigated.
"The investigation can only be carried on after the fire is extinguished and our team has stated that the site is safe, but now we still cannot predict when the fire will put out by itself," he said.
Based on the previous fire experience in 1995, the fuel tank fire can only be put out after one or two days after the tanks is empty.
"In the 1995 fire, seven tanks were on fire after struck by lighting, it needs a week to be extinguished, and for today`s incident is estimated to be done in one or two days," said Bangun, a local resident.
(A050/F001)
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
