Pipeline Blaze in West Java Claims One Life
A sudden fire on a Pertamina pipeline in West Java turned a routine day into a tragic event for the Indonesian oil giants. The blaze, which erupted on Tuesday, October 22, claimed the life of a Chinese construction worker working on a high‑speed railway project.
What Went Wrong?
According to a local fire official, the casualty was a crane operator who was hands‑on during the construction. While the exact spark is still under investigation, early indications point to the activity of drilling work associated with the $6 billion (S$8.2 billion) Jakarta‑Bandung rail line.
Immediate Response
- Pertamina temporarily halted fuel distribution through the affected pipeline.
- Ms. Dewi Sri Utami, a company spokesperson, stated that investigators were still at work and that the company aimed to extinguish the fire as quickly as possible.
- Video footage captured choking black smoke from the highway side, partly veiling a busy toll road.
The Broader Picture
While the incident rattled the local community, it also highlighted the heavy intertwining of infrastructure development and oil gas utilities in Indonesia. The incident will, of course, prompt a fresh look at safety protocols on all similarly constructed sites.
Learn More
Stay tuned for official updates as Pertamina’s investigation unfolds and the details on the cause of the blaze become clearer.
