Indonesia to seek trillions of rupiah compensation for oil spill

Indonesia will seek trillions of rupiah of oil spill compensation that has been polluting its waters territory, a minister said Thursday.

Minister for Marine and Fisheries Fadel Muhammad told a parliamentary hearing that the compensation would be needed to fix environmental situation damaged by the oil spill.

However, he declined to disclosed the exact figures, only saying that the country is trying to seek the amount gradually.

He said that the compensation would be useful to fix maritime production.

"For example, we intend to fix seaweed cultivation as production decreases sharply due to the pollution," he said.

He said that Indonesia and Australia are in the same position to seek for compensation as the oil spill also has polluted Australian waters.

"If we get the compensation, it would be useful for public interest," he said.

An explosion of oil well operated by Thai-based oil company Montara PTTEP Australasia has been polluting Timor Sea since August 2009.

Source: Xinhua