VIVAnews - The National Commission of Human Rights (Komnas HAM) is planning to summon Pertamina regarding claims filed by the victims of LPG tank explosions yesterday.
“They actually reported the incident, not Pertamina. But we’re trying to seek an explanation from the company on this,” Komnas HAM Commissioner Johny Nelson Simanjuntak on July 7.
According to him, the event could be considered as a violation against human rights. “Due to this incident, the death victims have lost their right to live and the material damages caused by the explosion have also taken away their ownership right,” Simanjuntak said.
Pertamina Public Relations Head Toharso said he was willing to come in order to explain the cause of the explosions.
He pointed out that the incidents were not triggered by leakages in the gas cylinders, but in the cylinders’ accessories. “Based on the tests performed by the police on fifty three explosions, no exploded tanks were found. Most of the accidents were due to leakages on regulators and hoses. So, it’s not the tanks that exploded,” he said.
It was later known that a lot of people were using accessories that do not follow standards. “When we went out there for a check, we learned that there were many unstandardized accessories up for sale”.
He also explained that Pertamina was not authorized to do supervision on unstandardized accessories. “Pertamina does conduct the conversion but it is not us who are fully responsible for controlling the distribution of LPG equipments,” Toharso said.
Furthermore, he stated that Pertamina was only assigned to fill the cylinders and distribute them to the public. “Tank and accessory supervision and procurement are the authority of the Industry and Trade Ministry. We’re not trying to run from our responsibility. Our responsibility is limited”.
Toharso also said the program of petroleum conversion to LPG was implemented by several relevant ministries such as Pertamina, the Industry and Trade Ministry and the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry.
Meanwhile, the government has formed a national team that consists of the related ministries, which also include the police, the National Standards Agency, the Technology Analysis and Application Center, Pertamina, and coordinated by the Coordinating Minister for People’s Welfare.
“The government will be selling technically standardized tubes that will only be available in Pertamina LPG agents. Technically standardized regulators will follow”.
The government will also educate people on the use of LPG. “A lot of people don’t understand. Most of them don’t know what to do if they find gas leakages,” Toharso said. The guidelines of LPG usage will be presented directly to a group of people and published on the media.
Responding to Pertamina’s explanation, Komnas HAM will further analyze the data submitted by Pertamina. Komnas HAM has also suggested Pertamina to improve coordination between the ministries involved. “Because it seems like the coordination doesn’t run properly,” Simanjuntak said.
The commission also gave an advice to Pertamina on the intensification of LPG use education. “Don’t blame the people for this. They’re just users. The entire program implementation and tool distribution were authorized by the government,” he said.
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Translated by: Nataya Ermanti
