Pertamina will soon open tender to lease another 32 tankers

State owned oil and gas company Pertamina will soon open a tender to lease another 32 small and medium-scale tankers as part of the company?s program to rejuvenate its aging tanker fleet.

Pertamina?s president Widya Purnama said in Jakarta on Thursday that the 32 tankers would be procured through a bare boat hire purchase mechanism, a rental system similar to leasing arrangement provided by leasing companies.

Under such leasing contracts, Pertamina has the opportunity to own the tankers after 10 years of their operation.The tender for the 32 tankers with capacities of between 350 DWT to 30,000 DWT, will be opened to the public and all shipbuilding companies can take part in the tender as long as they meet the requirements, he said.

Widya said that the tender would be carried twice in 2005 and 2008, with the first one to be launched by the end of this month. The delivery for those tendered this month will be carried out between 2008 and 2009 while those tendered in 2008 will be delivered between 2011 and 2012.

Several shipbuilding companies from China, and South Korea have expressed their interest to take part in the tender, he said. ?But national shipbuilding companies will be a priority,? he said.

Pertamina previously bought several medium and large scale tankers to boost its ailing tanker fleets. (Godang)