PT Pertamina (Persero) plans to upgrade the capacity and flexibility of its refineries to process crude oil allocated for export, as part of the government’s plan to divert crude exports for domestic processing. This move is aimed at supporting Indonesia's commitment to energy independence. The government has emphasized that all crude oil, which was originally intended for export, will now be processed at domestic refineries. Fadjar Djoko Santoso, Vice President of Corporate Communication at Pertamina, confirmed that the company supports this initiative and will continue to upgrade its refineries to handle a variety of crude types through the Refinery Development Master Plan (RDMP). An example of this effort is the planned upgrade of the Balikpapan Refinery, which is expected to operate at full capacity later this year, with an additional 100,000 barrels per day, bringing its total capacity to 360,000 barrels per day.
Corporate Secretary of PT Kilang Pertamina Internasional (KPI), Hermansyah Y Nasroen, also affirmed the company’s commitment to supporting the government’s plan by preparing all refineries to process domestic crude oil. This aligns with Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia’s statement, emphasizing the optimization of domestic crude oil use to boost national fuel production and reduce imports. He called on SKK Migas, KKKS contractors, and Pertamina to implement this strategy, aiming for increased energy self-sufficiency. Furthermore, the government is focusing on enhancing the capacity and flexibility of domestic refineries, such as those in Balikpapan, Cilacap, and Dumai, which are now capable of processing a wider range of crude oil types. Bahlil also encouraged faster development of new refineries like those in Tuban and Balongan to increase processing capacity in the coming years.
