Relocation Sought in Aftermath of Deadly Oil Depot Fire

Within the next two days the government will decide whether to move people from their residential area or relocate the Pertamina Plumpang Depot in North Jakarta.

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

Aerial photo of a resident's residence that was burned due to a fire at the Pertamina Plumpang Depot Integrated Fuel Oil Terminal on Jalan Tanah Merah Bawah, Rawabadak Selatan Village, Koja District, North Jakarta, Saturday (4/3/2023).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The government is studying these two relocation options with a view to preventing a repeat of the recent deadly fire at the Integrated Fuel Oil Terminal in Plumpang, North Jakarta, operated by state-owned oil and gas company Pertamina. The disaster claimed several lives. The relocation plan is actually not new with it having been raised following a similar incident in 2009, but had never been realized until the more serious tragedy occurred on Friday night (3/3/2023).

When visiting the depot fire victims sheltering at the Rasela integrated child-friendly public space, North Jakarta, on Sunday (5/3), President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo reiterated his instruction for a solution to be found immediately. The options have been put forward on the grounds that a dangerous zone can no longer be in a residential area.