The Lawe-Lawe Strategic Project Achieves a New Milestone, Completing the Construction Work of the Onshore and Offshore Crude Oil Reception Pipeline.

Thursday, 28 November 2024

In line with the development of the Balikpapan Refinery, Pertamina through PT Kilang Pertamina Balikpapan (KPB) is also expanding the capacity for crude oil reception, storage, and distribution at the Lawe-Lawe Terminal, Penajam Paser Utara Regency. On Friday, November 8th, KPB held a signing ceremony for the Mechanical Completion (MC) of the 52” and 6” Offshore & Onshore Unloading Line, which is part of the Lawe-Lawe Facilities EPC Project.

Mechanical Completion (MC) marks the completion of the physical construction phase. During the MC process, inspections and tests are conducted on the equipment and structures built to ensure that the installation meets project specifications and requirements, confirming readiness for commissioning or further testing.

Djoko Koen Soewito, Director of Development at PT KPB, expressed his gratitude for this achievement. "Today, we gather to sign the MC for the offshore & onshore unloading line 52” & 6” of the Lawe-Lawe Facilities EPC Project. This is the result of hard work and collaboration from the teams involved in this project," Djoko said.

The offshore & onshore unloading line work includes the construction of several new facilities, including the Single Point Mooring (SPM) and a new 52” pipeline. The SPM is a floating structure installed offshore that serves as a reception facility and ensures the tanker’s position remains secure during crude oil delivery.

Currently, the SPM installation, located 13.9 km off the coast of Tanjung Jumlai, Penajam Paser Utara Regency, with a capacity of 320,000 deadweight tonnage (dwt), has been completed and is in the commissioning phase. In the future, Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) tankers will be able to dock and transfer crude oil to storage tanks at the Lawe-Lawe Terminal.

Roberman Siburian, VP of Construction for Lawe-Lawe, highlighted the significance of this achievement despite the challenges faced. “This is an achievement we should be grateful for, as we have managed to make progress despite many challenges,” Roberman said.

The event also included a Project Lessons Learned Workshop, attended by workers involved in this strategic project. During the workshop, several strategic topics related to the completion of the project were raised and discussed. The lessons learned will serve as valuable documentation for continuous development, offering insights into best practices and major challenges in project management for future initiatives.

"In the midst of our busy schedule, our colleagues have taken the time to learn from the completion of this project, identifying both positive and negative aspects and making improvements for future learning. This includes insights from both the construction function and other supporting functions involved in project completion," Roberman emphasized the importance of evaluation and learning from the project.

In August, the new 20” crude oil pipeline from the Lawe-Lawe Terminal to the Balikpapan Refinery successfully completed its first oil delivery. The completion of the crude oil reception facilities further strengthens the Lawe-Lawe Terminal's readiness to support the increased capacity of the Balikpapan Refinery, which has been expanded by 100,000 barrels per day.

As the manager of the National Strategic Project, PT KPB continues to accelerate the completion of the Balikpapan and Lawe-Lawe Refinery Development Master Plan (RDMP) Project. This project aims to increase the processing capacity of the Balikpapan Refinery, produce more environmentally friendly products, and enhance refinery complexity to improve operational efficiency and expand product ranges. The completion of the Balikpapan and Lawe-Lawe RDMP Project is expected to strengthen the nation’s energy resilience, sovereignty, and independence.