Pertamina plans several fuel distribution projects in Java

State oil and gas company Pertamina has planned several projects to ensure the smooth distribution of fuel across Java.

Pertamina?s president Baihaki Hakim said Thursday that the state company would soon build a fuel storehouse in Cikampek, West Java and planned to build a storage tank at its refinery complex in Balongan, West Java to support fuel distribution in Jakarta and West Java.

This fuel storehouses will back up Pertamina?s main fuel depot in Plumpang, North Jakarta, which was severely flooded over the past several days. The flood disrupted fuel distribution in the capital and its surrounding areas.

Pertamina will invest a total of US$60 million to build the Cikampek and Balongan facilities, Baihaki said on the sidelines of the ceremony to install several new top officials at the ministry of energy and mineral resources.

Pertamina initially also planned to build another fuel storehouse in Balaraja, Tangerang, but it is now reviewing the plan given the security problems. Bahkai did not specify the security problem.

Aside from the Cikampek and Balongan fuel storehouses, Pertamina also planned to build another fuel storehouse in Gresik, East Java to support fuel distribution in the province, Baihaki added.

Aside from the fuel storehouses, Pertamina also planned to boost its fuel tanker fleet and develop pipe network in several parts of the island.

Pertamina is now developing the fuel pipe network linking the East Java towns of Rehulu and Banyumas.

Pertamina would add 12 vessels to its tanker fleet, Baihaki said

According to Baihaki, during Pertamina?s recent roadshow to Japan, Japanese investors voiced interest in financing the fuel distribution projects, including the building of the tankers. He did not however identify the Japanese investors. (Godang)