Pertamina Maximizes Handling of Dumai Refinery Incident

Jakarta, April 4, 2023 - Pertamina is maximizing the handling of the Dumai Refinery incident. It was conveyed by the President Director of PT Kilang Pertamina Internasional (KPI), Taufik Adityawarman, in a Hearing Meeting (RDP) between Pertamina and the Indonesian House of Representatives Commission VII located in the House of Representatives Building, Jakarta, on Tuesday, April 4, 2023.

Before explaining the handling that Pertamina has done, Taufik first explained the chronology of the incident. The incident occurred on Saturday at 22.42 on a 6-inch pipe in compressor area 212-C-2 due to a hydrogen gas leak.

"The leakage was followed by a flash that caused vibrations and loud bangs, and the last data felt within a 1 km radius affected the residential area of ​​Tanjung Palas Dumai," Taufik said at the meeting.

Taufik said the team promptly turned off two compressor units and carried out extinguishing and cooling efforts, so the fire was successfully extinguished in just 9 minutes at 22.51. Nevertheless, this incident is still under investigation by Pertamina, the Directorate General of Oil and Gas (ESDM), and the police.

"Alhamdulillah, colleagues in the field coordinated well, so the fire was successfully extinguished at 22.51. Further evaluation was carried out at 23.30, and the condition was declared safe. We will conduct laboratory testing on pipe material samples to conduct metallurgical analysis to ensure whether this type of material is still suitable or whether we need to improve its material strength," he said.

In handling the Dumai Refinery incident, Pertamina formed a joint team and an investigation team. The next plan is to conduct data collection, verification, and repairs, which are targeted to be completed in April.

"We will carry out facility repairs, which are targeted to be completed on April 7, repairs of residents' houses, which are targeted to be completed before Eid al-Fitr or by April 17. We will conduct socialization and educate the public, given the danger of living in the buffer zone. We will strengthen the surrounding equipment and facilities with a target of May 2023 and review the buffer zone in July 2023," he continued.

President Director of Pertamina, Nicke Widyawati, added that Pertamina is committed to handling the Dumai Refinery incident as maximally as possible. Pertamina will continue to upgrade the technology of each refinery.

"We will continue to upgrade refinery technology, which cannot be done at once, because the refinery must be shut down. We will handle this incident as maximally as possible. Of course, it is our joint responsibility to balance energy support and safety," she concluded.**