Pertamina recently signed deals with Taiwanese petrochemical giant CPC and a South Korean consortium to develop the Balongan and Tuban refineries respectively. It is eyeing other companies from various countries for other refineries, according to company spokesperson Fajriyah Usman.

The refineries, once completed, are expected to double Indonesia’s fuel output, enabling Pertamina to meet the country’s growing transportation fuel demand without raising fuel imports, a major contributor to the nation’s trade deficit.

“None of these refineries have been removed [from the National Strategic Projects] and all of them are on track,” Fajriyah said on June 5. Projects listed under the National Strategic Projects are eligible for government aid, providing an incentive for investment.

Indonesia has set a goal to process more resources domestically to boost export revenue and narrow the nation’s current account deficit, which continues to weigh down the economy. Fajriyah and Pertamina megaprojects and petrochemical director Ignatius “Lete” Tallulembang, the man who oversees the refinery projects, shared updates from the national strategic projects.

Cilacap refinery

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