Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs Directly Monitors Progress of Balikpapan RDMP, Appreciates Achievements Towards Operational Phase

Friday, 17 October 2025

As part of efforts to strengthen coordination and ensure that the progress of the National Strategic Project (PSN) is proceeding according to plan, PT Kilang Pertamina Balikpapan (KPB) received a working visit from the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia (Kemenko Perekonomian RI) to the Balikpapan and Lawe-Lawe Refinery Development Master Plan (RDMP) Project. This activity is part of the central government's routine monitoring and evaluation agenda for PSN, particularly in the energy sector.

The Kemenko Perekonomian delegation was accompanied by representatives from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) and was welcomed directly by the management of PT KPB, PT Kilang Pertamina Internasional (KPI), and PT Pertamina (Persero) at the New Site Office (NSO) Building on Tuesday (14/10).

The activity began with a presentation from the PT KPB management team on the latest developments of the Balikpapan and Lawe-Lawe RDMP projects. It was reported that the project had entered the final phase of completion towards operational testing, with progress reaching 96.67% in the second week of October 2025.

Gede Edy Prasetya, Assistant Deputy for Energy and Mineral Resources Development at the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, expressed his appreciation for the achievements. “We welcome the steps taken by KPB in completing the Balikpapan RDMP. This project demonstrates Pertamina's strong commitment to supporting national energy security,” said Gede.

He also expressed his hope that the project would be completed soon and provide tangible benefits to the community. “Hopefully, the entire process will run smoothly towards commissioning and inauguration, so that it can immediately provide the best service to the community,” he added.

After the presentation and discussion session, the delegation from the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, together with representatives from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, visited the project site. The field inspection covered several key points, one of which was the Residual Fluid Catalytic Cracking (RFCC) unit, which is the main priority of the project. This unit functions to convert residues into high-value products with a capacity of 90 thousand barrels per day, producing products such as gasoline, liquid petroleum gas (LPG), light cycle oil (LCO), decant oil (DCO), and petrochemicals in the form of propylene.

On the same occasion, PT KPB Vice President (VP) of Legal & Relations, Asep Sulaeman, expressed his appreciation for the government's support for the implementation of the Balikpapan and Lawe-Lawe RDMP projects. "We continue to maintain transparency and ensure that all development processes are carried out in accordance with the principles of safety, quality, and compliance. This visit is an important moment to align perceptions and strengthen coordination with the central government," said Asep.

In addition, PT KPB emphasized the importance of the Health, Safety, Security, and Environment (HSSE) principles as a top priority in every stage of project implementation. This is in line with Pertamina's commitment to realizing sustainable refinery development.

The central government's strong commitment to overseeing national strategic projects, particularly in the energy sector, is an important foundation for strengthening national energy security and independence. With solid synergy and collaboration between the government and Pertamina, the Balikpapan and Lawe-Lawe RDMP projects are expected to enter the trial operation phase in the fourth quarter of 2025 and become an important milestone in the history of Indonesia's energy transformation.