Tanjung Api-Api potential as location for a new fuel refinery

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Sudirman Said stated that the Tanjung Api-Api special economic zone (SEZ) in South Sumatra has the potential to become location for a new fuel refinery as the SEZ is being developed as a center for various energy-related projects.

Sudirman, however, said in a statement issued by the ministry following a visit to the Tanjung Api-Api SEZ project on Sunday that a deeper study must be made to make sure that the area meets the requirements for fuel refinery project.

He said that the government plans to develop four new fuel refineries, two of which will be located in Bontang (East Kalimantan) and Tuban (East Kalimantan).

The Tanjung Api-Api SEZ is part of the eight SEZs being planned by the government to be completed by 2019 as part of efforts to lure fresh investments into the country. The visit on Sunday by Sudirman is aimed to help realized a planned investment in the Tanjung Api-Api SEZ by the Dubai Port Authority.

Sudirman said that the Tanjung Api-Api SEZ is expected to become a center for new energy-related projects such as coal-gasification, coal liquefaction, fuel refinery, fertilizer, cement, CPO, and petrochemical industries.

?Dubai Port has already visited Tanjung Api Api and they have expressed interest to invest,? said South Sumtra Governor Alex Noerdin in the statement, but stopped short of explaining what kind of investment will be made by the Dubai group.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak