Balongan refinery runs at full capacity despite fire

The Balongan refinery in Indramayu, West Java owned by state owned oil and gas firm PT Pertamina still runs at full capacity despite a fire that hit its Residu Catalyst Cracking (RCC) unit on Sunday, Media Indonesia reported Tuesday.

The refinery?s Operation Manager Iwan Sumantri said that an investigation into the fire is still underway but the failure of one of the tanks to work normally is believed to be the cause of the fire. The fire prompted local police to tighten guard around the facility.

Pertamina's Communication Vice President Basuki Trikora Putra said the incident had not caused impact on the refinery's production.

?Production remains normal at the refinery," he said.

Balongan has a combined processing capacity of 125,000 BPD of crude oil and produces various fuels such as Pertamax Plus, Pertamina Dex, unleaded gasoline and LPG. The refinery accounts for about 10 percent of Pertamina's refining capacity.(godang)