Yemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post 29 Sep 09;
An oil spill that followed an explosion at Montara oil field in West Australia is drifting closer to Indonesian waters off Timor Island and Sumba Island in East Nusa Tenggara, prompting calls for contingency measures to prevent it from spreading further.
Director of West Timor Care Foundation, Ferdi Tanoni, said the oil spill might spread to Indonesian territory within two weeks and had sent home West Timor fishermen operating near Pasir Island.
“The Australian government must take immediate steps to stop the spill from spreading further. I have asked fishermen to bring home samples of the oil spill and dead fish as evidence,” Tanoni said on Tuesday.
“I’m afraid the oil spill will destroy our environment and marine ecosystem as the wind blows from Australia to Indonesian waters.”
Governor Frans Leburaya said Australia and the operator of the oil field should be responsible for any environmental damage caused by the oil spill.
Montara oil field is situated south of Indonesia’s Pasir Island, a popular fishing spot for many East Nusa Tenggara fishermen.
Government anticipates oil spill in Timor Sea
The Jakarta Post 29 Sep 09;
The Transportation Ministry is working with the Australian Maritime Security Authority (AMSA) to prevent an oil spill from leaks in the Montara well head platform at the West Atlas block.
Bobby R. Mama hit, secretary of the ministry’s Marine Transportation Inspectorate General, said Tuesday the AMSA had sprayed dispersant by plane and conducted oil containment and recovery efforts to keep the spill under control.
He added two AMSA ships had been allowed to enter Indonesian waters on Sept. 23 to aid in the efforts, after aerial surveillance detected small patches of weathered oil 80 kilometers off Roti Island in East Nusa Tenggara.
“We’re dealing with the oil spill and have ordered port authorities in the area to look out for possible pollution,” Bobby said as quoted by Antara.
The Transportation Ministry’s director of sea and shoreline security, Sato M. Bisri, will conduct a joint observation with Australian officials at the Montara platform on Thursday.
Bobby downplayed the risk of contamination of Indonesian waters, saying only light crude and hydrocarbon that leaked.
Indonesia and Australia signed on Oct. 3, 1996, a memorandum of understanding on prevention and settlement of oil spills.
