Middle East firm to build refinery in RI

A Middle East company has been ascertained to develop a crude refinery in Java, Bisnis Indonesia and Koran Tempo reported on Monday.

Acting Director General of Oil and Gas I.G.N. Wiratmadja was quoted as saying that the refinery will have an annual capacity of 150,000 bpd, and can produce fuel with octane level of 92.

He said that the agreement on the project is scheduled to be signed on the sidelines of the upcoming Asia-Africa Conference in April of this year in Bandung, West Java.

Wiratamadja declined to unveil the name of the firm and the specific location of the planned refinery project, although claiming that land acquisition and feasibility study have been completed.

He said that construction is expected to start next year in the hope that the refinery could be completed by en of 2018.

Elsewhere, Wiratmadja said that a number of ambassadors from the Middle East countries have recently met with the government on possible cooperation in the oil and gas sector including supply of crude for planned domestic refinery project. (*)