Other tanks near tank 31 T-02 contain kerosene but they have been emptied and cooled downCilacap, C Java (ANTARA News) - The fire gutting the oil tank 31 T-02 of the state-oil company Pertamina refinery unit complex IV in Cilacap, Central Java, has spread to another tank on Saturday.
The fire had gutted the second tank in the eastern part of 31 T-02 tank.
Some security guards of the Cilacap refinery unit told ANTARA that the newly-burned tank was 31 T-03.
The firefighters kept extinguishing the flames but their efforts had been successful until 1.00 PM. Strong winds might have partly made the firefighters` efforts difficult.
Spokesman of Pertamina`s Cilacap refinery, Kurdi Susanto, said the burned 31 T-02 tank contained the high Octane Motor Gasoline Component.
"Other tanks near tank 31 T-02 contain kerosene but they have been emptied and cooled down," he said. The fire itself did not disrupt Pertamina`s fuel production in its Cilacap refinery, he said.
"The production process goes on and the fuel oil stocks remain sufficient for 22 days ahead. Therefore, we call on the people to remain calm. Don`t get panicked," Kurdi Susanto said.
The fire broke out on Saturday morning at around 4.30 am local time. According to Iik (42), a local resident, he heard an explosion in the Limonis refinery complex.
"The fire is quite big, but I don`t know from which refinery it started," he said. The state oil company`s authorities still investigate the causes of fire that has so far gutted two tanks.
"We are still investigating the cause of the fire and the material losses inflicted by the fire. It`s under investigation and there is no casualty in the incident," Kurdi Susanto said.
Pertamina`s Cilacap RU IV`s firefighters kept trying to put out the fire."We apologize for the inconvenience," he said.
(R013/F001)
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
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