Minister of Finance Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa received Ferdi Tanoni, Chairman of the West Timor Care Foundation (YPTB), on Thursday (July 9th) in the Minister's Office in Jakarta. During the meeting, the two discussed the progress of the people of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) affected by the 2009 Montara oil spill in NTT.
"Mr. Ferdi (Tanoni) and I were members of the Montara Task Force together around 2018. In this meeting, we discussed the progress of the people of NTT, particularly those affected by the environmental and economic losses resulting from the 2009 Montara oil spill in the Timor Sea," explained the Minister.
In addition to environmental pollution, the meeting also discussed the economic losses experienced by fishermen, seaweed farmers, and small businesses in NTT's coastal areas.
The impact of the 2009 Montara oil spill in the Timor Sea is still felt by the people of NTT. As a result of this incident, fishermen's catches declined, aquaculture activities were disrupted, and some communities experienced a decrease in income. Therefore, the Minister of Finance emphasized the importance of viewing environmental issues not only as ecological issues, but also as economic and social welfare issues.
"We also discussed various matters related to efforts to resolve the distribution of compensation rights for affected communities. Community aspirations need to be continuously monitored to ensure the resolution process runs smoothly in accordance with applicable regulations," he said.
Furthermore, as a follow-up to this meeting, the Minister of Finance plans to visit NTT in the near future. Through this visit, the Minister intends to observe conditions on the ground firsthand and hear input from the community and stakeholders.
"Hopefully, this joint effort can provide certainty, justice, and benefits for the affected communities," he concluded.
Source: https://www.kemenkeu.go.id/informasi-publik/publikasi/siaran-pers/Menkeu–Ferdi-Tanoni-Bahas%0D%0ATumpahan-Minyak-Montar