Reuters AlertNet Lite - Fire out at Indonesia Pertamina HQ, functions normal

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Fire out at Indonesia Pertamina HQ, functions normal

16 Oct 2006 10:47:04 GMT
Source: Reuters

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A helicopter sprays water onto smoke after a fire broke out at the top floor of the headquarters of Indonesia's state oil and gas company, PT Pertamina, in Jakarta October 16, 2006. Fire broke out on the top floors of the high-rise headquarters of Indonesia's state oil and gas company, PT Pertamina, early on Monday and nearly 200 firefighters were working to put out the blaze at mid-morning.
REUTERS/ENNY NURAHENI

(Updates with fire extinguished)

JAKARTA, Oct 16 (Reuters) - A fire broke out on the top floors of the high-rise headquarters of Indonesia's state oil and gas company PT Pertamina on Monday, but key documents were safe and its operations were not affected, officials said.

The fire was doused after nine hours and there were no casualties, though the blaze destroyed the top floors where offices of senior executives, shipping department and meeting rooms were located, fire officials said.

Pertamina marketing director Achmad Faisal told reporters oil distribution was normal with operations supported by the company's other offices. Crucial documents were also safe, officials said.

"The oil products stock today is 23.3 days on average. Gasoline is at 16.5 days, diesel fuel at 23.1 days and kerosene at 33.7," he said.

"All oil distribution systems are unaffected. For fuel provision, we have ordered our affiliates to carry out imports according to needs."

The fire early on Monday affected the 19th through 21st floors of the building, officials and witnesses said.

Sudiran Sukarno, duty fireman at the Central Jakarta fire agency, told Reuters that nearly 200 firefighters had been deployed to the building, near Indonesia's presidential palace and main square and they took nine hours to put it out.

"Floors 19 and 20 are all burned while half of the 21st floor was gutted. If I'm not mistaken the 19th floor had the deputy director's (office) and shipping offices," he told Reuters.

There were no casualties reported and the cause of the fire had not been determined.

In the morning large plumes of grey and black smoke spewed from the top windows of the building and red-orange flames could occasionally be seen.

Asked about the possibility of sabatoge, Pertamina president director Ari Soemarno told reporters: "I don't want to speculate on anything. We will let the police do their investigation and we from Pertamina will fully co-operate."

Jakarta police spokesman Ketut Yoga Ana said the investigators should not be pressured to find the cause in haste.

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Last updated:Mon Oct 16 10:49:07 2006