Bakrie Pipeline decided winner of Arun-Belawan project

By Godang Sitompul

PT Pertagas said that it has decided Bakrie Pipeline as the winner of Arun-Belawan pipeline procurement project tender, but pending its formal announcement for about two months as an objection period for participants to convey any objection.

"Yes, the winner is Bakrie. But we have to wait for about one or two months as objection period for all participants. That is the procedure that we have to make sure to adhere to ,? PT Pertagas Corporate Secretary Eko told Petromindo.com in Jakarta on Friday.

Eko pointed out that Pertagas had followed its policy of accommodating competent companies to participate in its tenders. ?Bakrie has a pipe making plant. That?s why it can participate in our tender. Now it has come out as the winner, still we have to wait for about two months as an objection period before we formally announce it,? said Eko.

Eko added that the construction work will be started when the winners of engineering, procurement and construction (EPC), and compressors tenders had been announced.

?Currently, Pertagas has just finished the tender of pipe procurement. Later, we?ll decide the winners of the EPC tender,? he said.

"If I?m not mistaken, WIKA (Wijaya Karya), Rekayasa Industri, and PMC are the ones that participate in the EPC tender. This is different from the EPC to revitalize the Arun LNG plant which was conducted by the gas directorate of state oil and gas firm PT Pertamina,? he said.

According to him, Pertagas is also now finalizing all necessary licences from the administrations of Nangroe Aceh Darussalam province, North Sumatra province, all regencies concerned along the 350 kilometer pipeline planned to be built.

"Principle licences, not final ones, had been secured from both provinces, but not yet from regencies as they are still busy with on-going local elections,?

He noted that it had secured permissions from state plantation firm PT Perkebunan Nusantara, and oil firm ExxonMobil Indonesia to pass through their land properties.

Pertagas is still pursuing efforts of getting permissions from personal owners of land properties along the planned pipeline.

Editing by Benget Besalicto Tnb.