Pertamina closes N. Sumatra refinery on feedstock shortage

State oil company Pertamina has closed its 5,000-BPD Pangkalan Brandan refinery, North Sumatra due to shortage of feedstock, the company?s processing director said on Friday.

?The refinery is stopped right now, waiting for feedstock to arrive,? Suroso Atmomartoyo said . He did not say when the feedstock would arrive.

Another Pertamina?s 10,000-BPD Kasim refinery in Sorong, West Papua is still being repaired after it was gutted by fire in May, 2006. "Sorong refinery will be back in operations June this year,? Suroso added.

Pertamina operates seven refineries throughout Indonesia with capacity of 1.05 million BPD. (godang)