RI to import more fuel

JAKARTA (JP): State oil and gas company Pertamina has been forced to import more fuel this month as the result of an interruption in the operation of its refinery in Cilacap, East Java.

The Ministry of Mines and Energy said in a statement on Friday that Pertamina shut down a crude distillation unit at the refinery on April 29 for essential maintenance which was expected to be completed by May 26. The distillation unit has the capacity to process 200,000 barrels of oil per day.

However, the statement did not reveal the total volume of fuel that will be imported this month.

The Cilacap refinery has two distillation units which have a combined monthly production capacity of 1.7 million barrels of Premium gasoline, 1.77 million barrels of gasoline and 1.98 million barrels of automotive diesel fuel.

Refineries commonly require an overhaul after two years of uninterrupted operation. (jsk)