Pertamina to hold tender to select operator for calcine coke refinery

The state oil and gas company Pertamina will hold a tender soon to decide who would repair and operate the calcine coke refinery in Dumai, Riau province, according to company deputy director for downstream marketing Muchsin Bahar.

Muchsin told Petromindo.com over the weekend that so far there were three companies which have expressed interest to operate the calcine coke refinery including oil and gas company Conoco, and two others from South Africa and the U.S.

He said that although Conoco was currently conducting the feasibility study, the company would not automatically become the operator.

?We?ll hold an open tender,? he said, adding that the tender would start once Conoco had completed the feasibility study.

Calcine coke is a by product of oil refinery operation often used as a source of energy in steel industry.

The calcine coke refinery breakdown late in 1997. The fixing of the refinery unity would need at least one year. But Muchsin declined to disclose the cost for the renovation.(R. Amoros)