Jakarta gas stations fail safety standards

Abdul Malik, head of the Central Jakarta chapter of the Jakarta Environmental Management Board (BPLHD) in Indonesia, said that only two of 32 gas stations across the country, both owned by Royal Dutch Shell P.L.C., met the country’s safety standards. “We found that 30 gas stations have disobeyed the environmental law. Twenty six gas stations are owned by PT Pertamina, while the other two belong to Shell and Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) respectively,” Abdul said. Violators face sanctions including closure or withdrawal of operating permits. However, environmental experts in Indonesia believe that environmental impact assessments are merely administrative formalities, as they are not enforced or applied properly. (January 31, 2009)