Pertamina finally agrees to order six crude tankers from local shipmakers

State oil and gas firm Pertamina said on Thursday it had agreed to buy six crude carriers from local shipbuilders, and agreed that its decision could support the development of the country?s shipmaking industry and reduce unemployment.

?Our decision could not be measured by whether or not it is economic,? Pertamina president director Baihaki Hakim said as reported by Detik.com news website.

The government, through Minister of Industry and Trade Rini Suwandi, had repeatedly urged Pertamina to order tankers from local shipmakers.

The six tankers are part of the 12 crude carriers Pertamina had planned to buy during the coming several years.

They included 2 carriers with capacity of 3,500 dead wight tons (DWT) each, two 6,000-DWT tankers, one 17,500-DWT tankers and one 30,000-DWT tankers, Pertamina said.

Baihaki did not say which shipyards will build the six tankers.

Indonesia has several shipyards including PAL Indonesia, Dok Surabaya, Koja Bahari Jakarta, Dumas Surabaya, Duta Marina Indah, Intan Sekunyit Palembang and IKI Makassar.

Meanwhile, earlier reports said Pertamina had nominated South Korea?s Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. to build two very large crude carriers, or VLCCs.

Pertamina plans to reduce dependence on chartered crude vessels which at present account for some 80 percent of its tanker fleet. (*)