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Balikpapan refinery fire will not affect operations, says Pertamina
One person has been killed and three others have suffered severe injury in a fire at Pertamina’s oil refinery in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, which has now been closed for weeklong repairs.
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A firefighter battles flames on March 31, 2021 at the Balongan refinery of state-owned oil and gas giant Pertamina in Indramayu, West Java. (AFP/Riki)
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tate-owned oil and gas holding company Pertamina announced on Sunday that a fire at its Balikpapan oil refinery in East Kalimantan had been extinguished and that the plant’s operations had not been significantly disrupted.
The fire broke out at the refinery’s Plant 5 at around 10:40 a.m. local time on Sunday and had been extinguished by around 11:31 a.m., according to communications manager Ely Chandra at Pertamina Refinery Unit V Balikpapan.
“One person was killed and three others are in intensive care at Pertamina Balikpapan Hospital after the incident. Two contractors exposed to heat have returned to their homes after receiving treatment,” Ely said in a statement issued on Sunday.
Separately, Balikpapan refinery general manager Wahyu Sulistyo said: “We express our deepest condolences for the victims of the accident. We will take responsibility for all victims.”
While Pertamina did not shut down the refinery during the incident, Ely said in a statement on Monday that Plant 5 would be temporarily shut down for repairs that were expected to be completed in seven days.
Read also: ‘No shutdown’ at Cilacap refinery after blaze: Pertamina
He also made assurances “that fuel production continues to proceed safely”.
