Pertamina Board of Commissioners Reviews Balikpapan RDMP Project, Affirms Support & Optimism for Completion of National Strategic Project

Friday, 25 July 2025

The Board of Commissioners of PT Pertamina (Persero) reviewed the progress of the Balikpapan Refinery Development Master Plan (RDMP) Project on Friday (7/25). Accompanied by the management of PT Pertamina (Persero), PT Kilang Pertamina Internasional, and PT Kilang Pertamina Balikpapan, the visit underscored the Board of Commissioners' strong commitment to overseeing the acceleration of the completion of one of the National Strategic Projects (PSN) that serves as a key pillar of Indonesia's energy security.

During the visit, Deputy Chairman of PT Pertamina (Persero) Todotua Pasaribu expressed optimism about the project's achievements, particularly the RFCC unit, which continues to make positive progress. “We are pleased that overall progress on this project has reached around 96 percent, and specifically the RFCC behind us has reached 98 percent progress,” he said.

He added that the operational target for the Residual Fluid Catalytic Cracking (RFCC) unit is expected to begin in October this year, followed by other units before full operation. “We will continue to monitor from the start in October this year,” he added.

Furthermore, this project is a manifestation of refinery technology advancement and commitment to energy independence for the nation. The Board of Commissioners will continue to monitor and ensure that the project runs on schedule. "We, the Board of Commissioners of Pertamina, will continue to oversee the implementation of this project. We are committed to supporting the Pertamina Board of Directors and the Board of Directors of Pertamina Refinery Sub-Holding to immediately complete the Balikpapan RDMP project," he explained.

In addition to reviewing the RFCC, the Board of Commissioners also visited facilities that are already in operation, such as the Boiler area, Gas Turbine Generator (GTG), and Main Control Room (MCR). This project, managed by PT Kilang Pertamina Balikpapan (KPB), brings significant transformation to the refinery’s performance, including an increase in crude oil processing capacity to 360,000 barrels per day (KBPD) from the previous 260 KBPD, environmentally friendly products meeting EURO V standards, and an increase in refinery complexity from 3.7 on the NCI (Nelson Complexity Index) to 8.0 NCI, reflecting the refinery's ability to process crude oil of varying quality into high-value products.

On the same occasion, Commissioner of PT Pertamina (Persero) Nanik S. Deyang expressed her admiration for the contributions of Pertamina officers as Indonesian engineers. “I am proud of the RDMP project. As discussed with the Director of KPB Development, this strategic project involves 400 of our engineers, which is extraordinary,” she said.

He explained that it is not impossible for Indonesia to build large-scale projects in the near future and prove that our human resources are capable of building high-tech energy infrastructure. “We appreciate the performance of all engineers and workers. Hopefully, this can become a new spirit and revival for Pertamina,” he said.

To date, several key facilities of the Balikpapan RDMP Project have been operational, including the crude processing revamping unit, the Senipah gas facility, the crude storage tank facility, Single Point Mooring (SPM), and the Lawe-Lawe pipeline, as well as key utilities such as Brackish Water Reverse Osmosis (BWRO), cooling towers, Gas Turbine Generators (GTG), and RFCC feed storage tanks. The presence of these facilities has improved operational efficiency at the refinery, reduced LPG consumption for combustion, and strengthened the national energy infrastructure.

VP Legal & Relations of PT KPB, Asep Sulaeman, added that the presence of the Board of Commissioners demonstrates full support for the field team. “Through collaboration and synergy among all parties, the Balikpapan RDMP will serve as a strong foundation for sustainable national energy supply, while reaffirming Pertamina’s role as a driving force for energy independence,” he concluded.