PT KPB Breaks MURI Record! 1,640 Workers Collaborate to Clean the Refinery Up to 120 Meters High

Tuesday, 25 February 2025

A historic achievement has been made in Indonesia’s oil and gas industry! PT Kilang Pertamina Balikpapan (PT KPB) successfully broke the Indonesian World Records Museum (MURI) record in the category of “Simultaneous Cleaning Action on the Most Floors by Oil and Gas Production Facility Workers.” A total of 1,640 workers, including PT KPB employees, contractors, and subcontractors, worked together to clean 84 floors, reaching a height of up to 120 meters in the Residual Fluid Catalytic Cracking (RFCC) area of the Balikpapan RDMP Project.

This initiative was not just about cleanliness but also part of implementing a safety culture during the 2025 National Occupational Health and Safety (K3) Month. PT KPB reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining world-class safety standards in the oil and gas industry, especially as the Balikpapan RDMP Project approaches its commissioning and startup phase.

MURI representative Andre Purwandono stated that this achievement is the first of its kind in Indonesia’s oil and gas sector. “Today, we are witnessing history being made. This is a simultaneous cleaning effort across 84 floors, reaching up to 120 meters high, carried out by thousands of workers. Such an action has never been undertaken on this scale in the oil and gas industry. PT KPB has proven that safety and cleanliness are integral to their work culture,” he said.

This event was part of Grebeg Housekeeping, a regular PT KPB program focused on creating a clean, orderly, and safe workplace. However, this time, it was conducted on a much larger scale to raise collective awareness as the refinery moves into its operational phase.

PT KPB’s Director of Operations, Arafat Bayu Nugroho, who personally participated in the effort, shared his experience of climbing to the 14th floor to assist in the cleaning process. “I experienced firsthand the challenges our workers face daily—climbing up and down, working under extreme conditions. This is not just about cleanliness but also about preparing for the commissioning phase with a safer work environment,” he said.

Bayu further emphasized that this initiative was not merely about breaking records but about fostering a better work culture. “Good housekeeping is an essential part of workplace safety. A clean and well-organized environment reduces the risk of accidents, especially during the high-risk startup phase. Safety remains our top priority,” he added.

This massive cleaning effort was far from symbolic. Studies have shown that a clean workplace can increase efficiency by up to 20% and reduce accident risks by 30%. In the oil and gas industry, where even small errors can have severe consequences, maintaining high cleanliness standards is a necessity.

PT KPB’s VP of Legal & Relations, Asep Sulaeman, reaffirmed that this initiative is part of the company’s commitment to implementing world-class HSSE (Health, Safety, Security, and Environment) standards. “As part of the Asta Cita program, we continuously innovate to create a safer and more sustainable oil and petrochemical industry. This achievement demonstrates that workplace safety is not just about compliance—it is embedded in PT KPB’s culture,” he explained.

This accomplishment is expected to inspire other oil and gas companies to take workplace safety more seriously. As the Balikpapan RDMP Project is one of Indonesia’s National Strategic Projects (PSN), PT KPB strives to set new standards in safety, efficiency, and operational sustainability.

“Breaking this record is not the end goal but the beginning of our long-term commitment to creating a safer, more productive, and more sustainable work environment for all our workers,” concluded Defrinaldo, VP of HSSE at PT KPB.