PT KPB Workers and Management Close Ranks, Oversee Initial Trial Run of Refinery Operations

Friday, 12 September 2025

PT Kilang Pertamina Balikpapan (KPB) continues to strengthen its focus on safety and operational readiness as it enters an important phase in the development of the Balikpapan Refinery Development Master Plan (RDMP) National Strategic Project (PSN). One of the main steps is to implement On Duty Management (ODM), a work pattern in which management, from the Board of Directors to Assistant Managers in non-technical fields, go directly to the field to monitor the commissioning of equipment and the start-up of the refinery.

PT KPB President Director Bambang Harimurti emphasized that ODM is a form of field leadership that is very important at this crucial stage. “Entering the commissioning and start-up phase is not a trivial matter. All processes must be carried out with discipline, vigilance, and safety. ODM ensures that management is at the forefront to oversee the safety and smooth running of activities in the field,” he said.

ODM is carried out daily through 10 rotating teams. Each team consists of 11 members led by a Vice President along with several Managers and other level representatives. In this way, the entire management line is directly involved in overseeing operational readiness. According to PT KPB's VP of Legal & Relations, Asep Sulaeman, ODM not only serves as a supervisory function, but also provides management with an opportunity to get closer to workers. “In the field, we can directly hear about obstacles and feedback from workers. This allows us to take anticipatory measures more quickly, and workers are also more confident that safety is always a priority,” he explained.

To support the trial phase and initial operations, the Balikpapan RDMP Project is currently starting the Saturated Liquefied Petroleum Gas Treater (SLPGT) unit. This unit cleans LPG produced by the refinery from impurities, especially sulfur, which is odorous and corrosive. As a result, the LPG produced by this unit is safer, odorless, and meets the standards for public use.

In addition, there is a Residue Fluid Catalytic Cracking (RFCC) unit, which is a top priority for the project because it is capable of converting residues into high-value products at a capacity of 90,000 barrels per day. The completion of this RFCC unit will increase the refinery's output of gasoline, Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG), and plastic raw materials (propylene).

Other supporting units are also ready, such as the power plant (Gas Turbine Generator), cooling system (Cooling Water System), crude oil pipeline from the Lawe-Lawe Terminal, and the flare system, a chimney that serves as a safety measure for refinery operations.

With the arrival of this unit, PT KPB is optimistic that the Balikpapan Refinery will be able to produce higher quality fuel and petrochemical products, while also supporting national energy security.

“Safety and operational reliability are our top priorities. ODM is proof that management is at the forefront alongside workers. We all have the same goal, which is to ensure that this strategic project is completed on schedule and safely,” concluded Bambang.