Pertamina to receive 2 Aframax vessels in March

State owned oil and gas firm PT Pertamina expects the arrival of two more 85,000-DWT crude oil tankers of Aframax type made in China in March this year, an official of the firm said on Thursday.

"The construction of the vessels started in early 2010. It is a high quality one. Earlier, we received a tanker, also of Aframax type, in April 2010. In December 2010, we placed an order for another Aframax tanker with the Chinese shipbuilder. It is expected to be finished in 2012. The Chinese shipbuilder won the tender thanks to its bidding price and technology," Pertamina's director of marketing and trade Djaelani Sutomo said.

He, however, did not identify the Chinese shipbuilder.

The tankers were part of the 25 vessels that the firm has placed orders for over a period of 2009-2014 program to replace its 25-year crude ol tankers, Djaelani said.

"We have received three vessels so far," he said.

Aside from the Chinese shipbuilder, Indonesian shipbuilder PT PAL, a state-owned firm, also got orders from Pertamina for small-type tankers, he said.

"We also want to build VLCC (Very Large Crude Carrier). But, it still remains a plan. We are studying the number of carriers we want to buy as well as the total investment needed for the purchase of such carriers," he said.

He also said Pertamina has placed an oder for a 5,000 ton LPG vessel with a Chinese shipbuilder. The construction of the LPG vessel is expected to be completed in the middle of this year. (Bernard)