Pertamina to launch Flare Gas Recovery System at Balikpapan refinery

State-owned oil and gas firm PT Pertamina will inaugurate the operation of two units of Flare Gas Recovery System (FGRS) at its Balikpapan refinery in East Kalimantan today (Thursday) as part of its effort to increase the efficient use of energy.

Pertamina said in a statement on Wednesday that the FGRS had successfully reduced flare loss of around 4,000 normal cubic meters per hour or worth about US$18.6 million per year.

The flare gas that is previously disposed of as waste gas by combustion in the air will, in part, be compressed and liquefied and recovered as LPG (liquefied petroleum gas). The part that is not liquefied will be effectively used as fuel gas in the refinery.

Aside from energy conservation, the FGRS also effectively reduced the greenhouse gas emissions, Pertamina said.

According to the statement, the $13.11-million project is carried out under cooperation with Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). Pertamina is contributing about 30 percent of the project costs. (godang)