Indonesia’s Pertamina Commits to Reduce Fuel, LPG Imports

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Indonesia’s state oil and gas firm PT Pertamina is committed to suppressing imports of fuel and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as the two commodities continue to burden the national oil and gas trade balance.

PT Pertamina president director Nicke Widyawati said that her team has formulated various plans to reduce imports to create energy independence. One is to increase investment in the upstream energy sector.

“Going forward, Pertamina’s investment will be adjusted to the government’s grand future energy strategy. If we talk about upstream energy, 60 percent of the investment will be made in the upstream energy,” said Nicke in a statement on Thursday, December 24.

Nicke added that Pertamina will also increase its refinery capacity to reach the maximum level of fuel products and improve the quality of fuel and naphtha.

Also read: Indonesia’s Pertamina Could Post Profit in Second Half: Research Institute

At the same time, she said, to anticipate a decrease in demand for fuel, Pertamina has integrated its petrochemical refineries, as Indonesia is currently still importing 70 percent of petrochemical products.

Also, to cater to the need for the development of new and renewable energy (EBT), Pertamina will accelerate the use of EBT generators or solar power and increase the production of biofuel.
“Apart from exploration from the oil and gas sector, we will also increase the contribution from bioenergy,” she said.

“After biodiesel (B30) and next year will produce B40, Pertamina will also produce biogasoline which is in high demand.”

Also read: Indonesia’s Pertamina to Scrap Low Octane Fuels Next Year

From the gas sector, Pertamina will also develop gasification from coal into dimethyl ether (DME) to convert LPG.

Besides, the oil and gas state firm will continue to build and add more household gas networks to reach three million customers. “So that people have many choices of using LPG, DME, gas networks, or electric stoves. This will boost the economy,” said Nicke.

(Writer: Rully R. Ramli | Editor: Erlangga Djumena)

Source: https://money.kompas.com/read/2020/12/24/114000926/ini-jurus-pertamina-tekan-impor-bbm-dan-elpiji-.