...no scientific research has been conducted to solve the problem by the two countries as well ass PTTEP Australasia as the operator of the Montara oil fieldKupang, East Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA News) - The West Timor Care Foundation (YPTB) and a number of elements of the public in West Timor, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), will hold a congress in Kupang to discuss the Montara oil spill problem.
"We are making preparations for the West Timor People`s Congress in Jakarta, because the Indonesian and Australian governments are incapable of dealing with the oil spill case," YPTB Chairman Ferdi Tanoni, who is also Timor Sea observer, said here Tuesday.
The Montara oil field explosion on August 21, 2009, has caused pollution in Timor Sea.
Thousands of coastal residents in NTT have been affected by the water contamination of crude oil spill, plumbum, and dispersant chemical powder of Corexit 9500.
"We have to organize the congress because since the Montara oil spill disaster which has been polluting Timor Sea covering around 80,000 km2 areas, no scientific research has been conducted to solve the problem by the two countries as well ass PTTEP Australasia as the operator of the Montara oil field," he said.
The governments of Australia and Indonesia had actually signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the prevention and handling of oil spill and pollution in seas, in 1996, he said.
However, the two governments have never implemented the MOU regarding the Montara oil spill, he added.
He also expressed his disappointment about the performance of the National Team on the Handling of Oil Spill Emergency Situation (PKDTML) led by Transportation Minister Freddy Numberi, for making the Montara case so complicated.
The team has failed to ask for the accountability of the Australian government and the PTTEP Australasia as the Montara operator, according to him. (*)
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
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