ID :
81896
Sun, 09/27/2009 - 00:12
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/81896
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NTT AUTHORITIES ANTICIPATING IMPACT OF ALLEGED OIL SPILL IN TIMOR SEA
Kupang, Indonesia, Sept 26 (ANTARA) - East Nusatenggara (NTT) provincial authorities have begun taking measures in anticipation of the impact of a half-million-liter oil spill in the Timor Sea from an alleged explosion in the Montana offshore oil field, a spokesman said.
"We are taking measures to prevent the oil spill from impacting negatively on marine biota in the Timor Gap," NTT Vice Governor Esthon Foenay said ii Kupang on Saturday.
The Montana oil field where an explosion reportedly occurred on August 21, 2009 lies about 690 kilometers west of Darwin in Australia's Northern Territory and 250 kilometers northwest of Truscott in western Australia.
The oil field is also located close to the Pulau Pasir atoll (Ashmore Reef) around which Indonesian traditional fishermen routinely catch fish and other marine biota.
The approximately 500,000 liters of petroleum that were spilled into the sea following the explosion in the Montana oil field could pollute the Timor Sea and threaten the habitats of fish and other marine biota in the waters, he said.
Apart from efforts to protect the marine biota, the NTT government would also take measures to prevent the oil spill from threatening human life, Foenay said.
But Foenay admitted the NTT government had so far not received any official report from any competent party about the oil spill while its knowledge about the explosion in the Montana oil field was based on media reports.
He therefore hoped that the Australian government would be prepared to issue an "honest" statement to confirm the reports about the explosion and the oil spill.
When the confirmation from the Australian side was received, it would be the responsibility of the central government to tackle the oil spill problem in the Timor Sea. "We as the government of the region closest to the oil spill can only take measures to anticipate the impact of the sea pollution," he said.
According to the media reports, as per August 30, 2009, the oil spill had covered a total area of 6,000 square kilometers, Foenay said. ***
"We are taking measures to prevent the oil spill from impacting negatively on marine biota in the Timor Gap," NTT Vice Governor Esthon Foenay said ii Kupang on Saturday.
The Montana oil field where an explosion reportedly occurred on August 21, 2009 lies about 690 kilometers west of Darwin in Australia's Northern Territory and 250 kilometers northwest of Truscott in western Australia.
The oil field is also located close to the Pulau Pasir atoll (Ashmore Reef) around which Indonesian traditional fishermen routinely catch fish and other marine biota.
The approximately 500,000 liters of petroleum that were spilled into the sea following the explosion in the Montana oil field could pollute the Timor Sea and threaten the habitats of fish and other marine biota in the waters, he said.
Apart from efforts to protect the marine biota, the NTT government would also take measures to prevent the oil spill from threatening human life, Foenay said.
But Foenay admitted the NTT government had so far not received any official report from any competent party about the oil spill while its knowledge about the explosion in the Montana oil field was based on media reports.
He therefore hoped that the Australian government would be prepared to issue an "honest" statement to confirm the reports about the explosion and the oil spill.
When the confirmation from the Australian side was received, it would be the responsibility of the central government to tackle the oil spill problem in the Timor Sea. "We as the government of the region closest to the oil spill can only take measures to anticipate the impact of the sea pollution," he said.
According to the media reports, as per August 30, 2009, the oil spill had covered a total area of 6,000 square kilometers, Foenay said. ***
