State energy company PT Pertamina has taken the initiative to improve safety and security around its refinery areas as part of the commitment to provide better protection for the surrounding community and environment.
As a start, Pertamina launched the Buffer Zone project at the Balongan Refinery in Indramayu regency, West Java, with the groundbreaking ceremony led by Pertamina CEO Nicke Widyawati on Monday, August 26, 2024. The buffer zone project at Balongan refinery centers on the Sukaurip-Sujareja road widening project.
Nicke emphasized that the company has an essential responsibility to maintain national energy security by producing quality fuel products while ensuring the safety of the public as a strategic stakeholder.
“This groundbreaking event [at Balongan] is the first phase; the next phase will be in the Kosambi Block [Tangerang, Banten]. With the implementation of this buffer zone, all Pertamina personnel at the Balongan Refinery will be able to perform their duties more effectively and without hesitation, as technical and Health, Safety, Security, and Environment (HSSE) aspects have been applied,” Nicke said in a media statement on Tuesday, August 27, 2024.
“Subsequently, productivity at the refinery will also become more optimal, providing greater benefits for the nation,” she added.
Nicke said further that the development of the Balongan Refinery buffer zone will go through several phases. One of them involves rerouting the Balongan highway, which is currently in a priority zone, to Sukaurip Road.
The road diversion will ensure the load capacity of Sukaurip Road as the main route is maintained by widening the road from 4.5–5.5 meters to 7.2–8 meters over a length of 2.4 km. This road widening is expected to have a positive impact on the local community, ranging from smoother traffic flow to economic growth and productivity.
Nicke expressed gratitude for the support provided by the Regent of Indramayu and the Indramayu Regency Leadership Communication Forum in implementing the stages of the buffer zone development at the Balongan refinery.
“This is the first time we have received full support from the local government for the implementation of this buffer zone. Cooperation between state-owned enterprises and local governments is very important. Therefore, I would like to thank the community for their support,” she said.
Indramayu Regent, Nina Agustina, expressed her support for the groundbreaking of the Sukaurip-Sukareja road widening as part of the first phase of the buffer zone implementation at the Balongan Refinery.
“The Indramayu Regency administration welcomes the groundbreaking of the Sukaurip-Sukareja road widening as part of the first phase of the buffer zone implementation at Pertamina’s Balongan Refinery. This is a responsibility that must be carried out to uphold our commitment to prioritizing the community’s interests above all, which will ultimately improve the welfare of the Indramayu community itself,” Nina said.
She expressed hope that that the implementation of the buffer zone in Indramayu will set an example for other companies in Indonesia, particularly those with potential hazards to the community.
Benefit of buffer zone
Diandoro Arifian, Vice President for Health, Safety, Security, and Environment (HSSE) at PT Kilang Pertamina Internasional and Coordinator of the PMO Buffer Zone, said that the buffer zone is designed to ensure the safety of the community and surrounding environment.
“The buffer zone is designed to minimize risks in the event of a fire or explosion by expanding the buffer area to a minimum of 50 meters from the outer fence of the operational area. The road widening work on the Sukaurip-Sukaraja replacement road is part of the safety enhancement efforts and is targeted for completion by the end of 2024,” Diandoro said.
Fadjar Djoko Santoso, Pertamina Vice President for Corporate Communication, said that the first phase of the buffer zone implementation at the Balongan Refinery is primarily aimed at providing service to the community.
“We hope that the construction of the buffer zone will not only enhance safety, but also provide the best service and broad benefits to the community around the refinery,” Fadjar said.
