Pertamina, Iran may delay Banten refinery development

State owned oil and gas company PT Pertamina and its Iranian and Malaysian partners may delay the development of a refinery in Bojonegara, Banten.

"I am scheduled to talk with the Iranian ambassador (to Indonesia) to talk about the project. The development of the refinery is likely to be postponed. There are many problems," Pertamina's President Director Karen Agustiawan said on Tuesday, without providing details.

The development of the refinery is now expected to start in 2014-2015, Karen said.

Last month, Processing Director Rukmi Hadihartini told a parliamentary hearing that the plant was expected to come onstream in 2012.

Rukmi then said that Bankable Feasibility Study for the construction of the 300,000-BPD refinery will be completed end of February 2009.

The project is owned by Pertamina (40%), Oil Refining Industries Development Company (ORIDC) of Iran (40%) and Petrofield Malaysia (20%).

The crude supplies are expected from Iran. (Godang)