TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Pertamina's Balikpapan Refinery in East Kalimantan had to be shut down on Monday noon, January 15, because of a steam pipe leak.
"One pipe was leaking, causing pressures to drop. One turbine then went off," Pertamina processing director Toharso said.
He said the pipe leaked because it is old, as it was installed in 1948.
Because of the shutdown, Balikpapan refinery is expected to lose some US$37.5 million.
"There is a potential loss since the refinery will not be able to produce fuel for a number of days," a Tempo source said on Monday, January 23.
Our source also said that even after the fire is out, the refinery will not be able to operate on a full scale. "It takes time and stages to operate the refinery," he said.
Toharso denied that the amount of loss would be that huge. He said that the day after the shut-down, the refinery was back in operation albeit not to its full capacity "About 70 to 80 percent," he said.
He also said that when the Balikpapan refinery was down, fuel supply came from refineries in other areas. "We didn’t import," he said.
The leak also caused fire sparks that shocked nearby residents. Fearing a fire that might spread to their homes, a number of residents even evacuated to another village. "It wasn’t just us that panicked, the whole villagers of Kampung Baru were," said Ramlah, a resident.
The flame came from the residual steam that traveled to fire chimney. "The minute it blacked-out, all gas was exhausted to the chimney. so the fire was huge," Toarso said.
RETNO SULISTYOWATI | ROBBY IRFANI | S.G. WIBISONO
