Pertamina to build refinery in Kupang

State oil and gas company Pertamina will build a new refinery plant in Kupang, East Nusatenggara, this year to anticipate fuel scarcity plaguing the area and nearby territories, Kompas daily reported on Saturday.

The head of Pertamina's Domestic Storage and Marketing Unit (UPPDN) V, Sumarsono, said the new refinery was especially to meet fuel demand in areas under the supervision of Pertamina's UPPDN V, including East Java, Bali, West and East Nusa Tenggara.

In addition, the refinery plant would also export fuels to East Timor, former Indonesian territory that had just separated from Indonesia following a self-determination ballot in August last year.

Thus far, Sumarsono said, all fuel needs for areas under UPPDN V control have been supplied from Pertamina's refinery plants in Balikpapan, Cilacap and others.

But Sumarsono did not provide further details on the planned construction of the fuel refinery in Kupang. (*)