Following the inferno at state-owned oil company Pertamina's fuel depot in Plumpang, North Jakarta mid last month, airport operator and state electricity firm PT PLN assured the public Monday that their key locations were well-guarded from industrial hazards
ollowing the inferno at state-owned oil company Pertamina's fuel depot in Plumpang, North Jakarta mid last month, airport operator and state electricity firm PT PLN assured the public Monday that their key locations were well-guarded from industrial hazards.
The Plumpang fire killed one person on Jan. 17, raising public concern over the safety of key areas in Jakarta and its surrounding areas.
Police have not yet determined the cause of the fire.
Last year, a man was arrested after being found with explosives at his house in Rawa Sengon, only one kilometer away from the Plumpang depot.
The man said his plan to attack Plumpang was retaliation for the executions of the three Bali bombers.
Soekarno-Hatta International Airport operator PT Angkasa Pura II spokesperson Trisno Heryadisaid the airport was prepared for emergencies.
"When there is an emergency, we have a contingency plan that refers to international regulations," Trisno said.
For example, Trisno said, the airport had conformed with certain time protocols in case of fire, such as having fire trucks ready to be at the scene within three minutes.
He said residential houses taller than two-stories were forbidden around the airport.
However, a specific problem with the Soekarno-Hatta International airport is kite flying by children living near the airport.
During school holidays in dry season, children from subdistricts West Kedaung, Bayur, Kelor, East Kedaung and New Kedaung fly kites near the runways.
The Tangerang municipal administration passed a 2004 bylaw prohibiting residents from flying kites in areas within a radius of nine kilometers of the airport following complaints lodged by pilots about the safety risk the toys posed.
Kite flying is not popular in the rainy season.
"We believe the city administration will be able to enforce the bylaw," he said.
Meanwhile, PLN corporate spokesperson Ario Subijoko said the company upheld safety standards at its power plants.
"We have safety standards for fuel and standard operational procedures for work safety," he said.
The company has two power plants located in Jakarta, the Tanjung Priok Power Plant and the Muara Karang Power Plant, both in North Jakarta. Another power plant is located in Bekasi, West Java.
"We have had zero accidents since the plants started operating in 1995," Ario said.
He said that unlike the Plumpang depot, the power plant was surrounded by a green belt to separate it from residential reas.
"This is also protects residents from noise and pollution," he said.
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