Probe it thoroughly and take stern measures against whoever is, if any, responsible for it in accordance with the law
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Darwin Zahedy Saleh urged law enforcement agencies to investigate the fire at a Pertamina refinery tank in Cilacap, Central Java, and take stern measures against those responsible for it.

"Probe it thoroughly and take stern measures against whoever is, if any, responsible for it in accordance with the law," he said in a press statement issued early Sunday.

The minister said since the fire broke out at Pertamina Refinery Unit IV`s tank 315-02 on Saturday at 04.25 a.m. he had continued to lead and encourage firefighting efforts using all available government means.

He said relevant officials of the ministry and state oil and gas firm Pertamina had since worked closely with relevant agencies at central and regional levels to deal with the fire.

The ministry also had intensively been monitoring the firefighting efforts until the cause of the fire could be established, he said.

"We use all available means to extinguish it while at the same time giving priority to the safety of employees and local people," he said.

An explosion that set off the fire occurred at one of the tanks in the refinery early Saturday. The fire spread to a nearby tank after firefighters were unable to put out the fire by noon.

State oil and gas firm PT Pertamina on Saturday asked for tons of foam to be used to extinguish the fire at its Refinery Unit IV in Cilacap, Central Java.

"We have prepared 40 tons of foam and five tons of it will soon be sent from Jakarta. I hope it will be enough," Pertamina corporate secretary Hari Karyuliarto said.

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa said in Cilacap on Sunday a number of helicopters would be used to fight the fire. "Efforts are being made to put it out from the air. Helicopters are leaving Jakarta for Cilacap."

The helicopters would shoot foam to cool unburned tanks and localize the fire, he said.(*)

Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
Copyright © ANTARA 2011