Pertamina's Balongan Refinery Utilises Flare Gas to Reduce Emissions

PT Pertamina Patra Niaga Refinery Unit (RU) Balongan in Indramayu, West Java, is reutilising gas previously burned through gas flares as fuel for its production process to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while improving energy efficiency. Executive General Manager of PT Pertamina Patra Niaga RU Balongan, Yulianto Triwibowo, said in a statement in Indramayu on Wednesday that the innovation was achieved by optimising the management of excess gas from the Naphtha Processing Unit (NPU) through the reactivation of a line to the fuel gas system. “Gas that was previously wasted through the flare can now be reused as fuel for the production process, thereby reducing energy waste, increasing operational efficiency, and significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” he said. The company recorded that the implementation of this innovation has reduced natural gas consumption, resulting in cost efficiencies of approximately Rp45 billion per year. He stated the innovation is capable of reducing emissions by up to 29,754 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent throughout 2025. “Optimising flare gas management is a form of our commitment to delivering refinery operations that are increasingly reliable, efficient, safe, and environmentally friendly,” he said. Yulianto explained that a flare is a mandatory safety system in the oil and gas industry, used to burn excess hydrocarbon gas safely to maintain operational reliability. However, he said, the company continues to develop various innovations so that gas previously burned can be repurposed as a value-added energy source.