Pertamina inaugurates transit fuel terminal in Southeast Sulawesi

State oil and gas company PT Pertamina officially operated Friday a new fuel oil transit terminal in Baubau, Southeast Sulawesi, with a capacity of 100,000 kiloliters to back up the operation of fuel storages in the province.

The construction of the terminal was intended to reduce demurrage costs at the Makassar port which has been over capacity. The new terminal will provide back loading to fuel storages in Palopo, Kolaka, Raha and Kendari which was previously served by the Makassar terminal.

In addition, the Baubau terminal will also distribute fuel to storages in Kolonade, Banggai and Luwuk, which were previously served by the Bitung terminal.

"The Baubau terminal is expected to serve as a back-up facility for storage facilities in Makassar and Bitung, as well as other fuel storages in East Nusa Tenggara during a time of crisis,? Karen said.

The Baubau terminal has a capacity of 100,000 kiloliters of diesel oil and gasoline. The terminal is equipped two docks with a capacity of 35,000 dead weight tons (DWT) and 6,500 DWT for loading, unloading and bunkering.

The Baubau storage is the ninth fuel transit operated by Pertamina after TTU Teluk Kabung, TTU Wayame, TT Sorong, TT Bitung, TT Makassar, TT Kupang, TT Kota Baru, and TT Pulau Bambu fuel storage terminals.

Editing by Roffie Kurniawan