Miners Reject Control

     Residents of Kedewan District, Bojonegoro, and Senori District, Tuban Regency, remain adamant in their opposition to the regulation of old oil well mining in their areas. They argue that the regulations are severely disadvantaged and threaten job losses. The regulation of the old oil well mining is nothing more than a lie. The reason is that the officers conducting the regulation are not from PT Pertamina, but from PT Geo Cepu Indonesia (GCI).

    Meanwhile, PT. GCI does not actually have any cooperation rights with Pertamina over the old oil wells in Kedewan and Senori Districts. The old oil wells in Kedewan District are located in Wonocolo and Kawengan Villages, while those in Senori District are in Banyuurip and Wonosari Villages. According to Sugit, the only institution that still has an operational cooperation with Pertamina for the management of old oil wells is the Sumber Pangan Village Unit Cooperative (KUD) in Wonocolo Village.

    Oddly, PT. GCI unilaterally asked the community to hand over oil production to the company, not Pertamina. This appears to be an illegal maneuver. Oil production from old wells should be handed over to Pertamina, but instead, it is being requested by a private, non-regional-owned company. PT. GCI claims to have a Joint Operation (KSO) with Pertamina EP, asset IV Cepu. They then conducted outreach on regulating oil mining at old wells in the rest room of District 1 Kewengan.

   The socialization process drew complaints from journalists who wanted to cover it, as it was conducted behind closed doors and not open to the public. Furthermore, security measures by security personnel and the East Java Provincial Police's Vital Objects Security Unit were so tight that journalists were unable to access information about the socialization.

According to Sugiarto, Public Relations Officer of PT. Geo Cepu Indonesia, the planned eviction of old oil well miners was divided into two areas: the western and eastern regions. The socialization was conducted by representatives of old oil well miners from KW 08, KW 73, KW 89, KW 119, P 15 PHZ, and KW 05.

  We will continue to regulate old oil well mining operations, as the wells they operate are state assets. Previously, Pertamina EP Asset IV had already regulated two old oil well mining areas. These two areas will even be developed into oil well tourism destinations in Bojonegoro, potentially generating significant revenue and boosting the tourism sector.

Duta Mayarakat, Page-15, Tuesday, Nov,22,2016