Pertamina to operate world?s largest LPG carrier

State-owned oil and gas firm PT Pertamina is scheduled to inaugurate today the world?s largest liquefied petroleum gas carrier vessel to boost gas distribution in the country.

The company said on Tuesday that Pertamina President Director Karen Agustiawan will lead the inauguration ceremony for the Very Large Gas Carrier (VLGC) Pertamina Gas I on Sambu Island, Riau Islands Province, on Wednesday.

The vessel, built in South Korea by Hyundai Heavy Industries, is 225.81 meters long, 36.60 meters wide, and has a capacity of 84,000 cubic meters. It is Pertamina?s 57th vessel, The Jakarta Globe said.

The company has invested $76 million for the construction on the vessel, which started in January 2011.

Hanung Budya, a director at Pertamina, said the Pertamina Gas I was a part of the oil company?s efforts to boost gas distribution, especially to eastern Indonesia.

?The Pertamina Gas I vessel is a multi-functional ship that will not only work as an LPG carrier but also as floating storage and off-loading (FSO) and as a docking station to load smaller LPG vessels,? Hanung said in a statement.

?Thus, the VLGC operation will enable Pertamina to work more efficiently to distribute LPG,? he added. The vessel is part of the company huge investment plan for this year. (*)