Antara News, Mon, May 9 2011
"The Indonesian government should ask Canberra to be responsible for the Montara oil spill which has contaminated Timor Sea, he said, adding that Jakarta has not been serious enough in dealing with the pollution."
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Kupang, E Nusa Tenggara/NTT (ANTARA News) - The central government must reject the planned presence of PTTEP Australasia in Timor Sea, a local marine observer urged.
"It`s time for Jakarta to send a letter of protest to Australia concerning a plan by PTTEP Australasia to drill two oil wells in a marine border area located much closer to Timor Island and other isles in East Nusa Tenggara Province, rather than to Australia itself," Ferdi Tanoni said here Monday.
PTTEP Australasia`s Montara oil field explosion in August 2009 has caused water pollution in Timor Sea and contaminated East Nusa Tenggara (NTT ) waters covering 80,000 km2. The company has so far gotten away with the marine pollution, he said.
The Indonesian government should ask Canberra to be responsible for the Montara oil spill which has contaminated Timor Sea, he said, adding that Jakarta has not been serious enough in dealing with the pollution.
Tanoni, chairman of the West Timor Care Foundation (YPTB), told the press that the Thai-based oil company has applied for licenses to drill oil in two oil wells in Timor Sea to the Australian Federal government.
According to the application document, PTTEP Australasia wanted to drill at an area around 600 km west of Darwin, North Australia, and about 675 km east of Broome sea, West Australia.
Indonesia should express objection to the plan because the company has so far irresponsible for the pollution that it has caused, he said.
"If PTTEP Australasia said in the document that it takes care of the sea environment, it`s just a lie because the Montara oil spill case has been ignored and not handled properly so far. It has also misled the national oil safety regulators," Tanoni said.
Editor: Heru
