Pertamina lifts LPG imports to allay shortage

Feb. 23, 2006
Indonesia's state-owned Pertamina will import 9,000 tonnes of LPG from Singapore to prevent a shortage.

Eric Watkins
Senior Correspondent

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 23 -- Indonesia's state-owned Pertamina will import 9,000 tonnes of LPG from Singapore to prevent a shortage.

The imports reportedly will be earlier and larger than previously announced as operations at the 125,000 b/d Balongan refinery in Indramayu, West Java, have been suspended for maintenance.

Pertamina spokesman M. Harun said refinery operations halted Feb. 15 and would resume Mar. 5.

The Balongan refinery, which can produce 1,200 tonnes/day of LPG, has been closed for repairs several times in the past 2 years.

In October 2005 the country's LPG production was reported to have declined by 20% due to problems in refineries in Balikpapan and Cilacap.

Pertamina planned to import 5,000-6,000 tonnes of LPG from Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand in January and hoped to produce LPG at maximum rates at Balongan.

Contact Eric Watkins at [email protected].