Pertamina: The Burned Tank Contains 31,000 Kiloliters Of Pertalite Components, Not Yet Pertalite Products

PT Refinery Pertamina Internasional (KPI) Unit Cilacap provided information regarding the burning of one of the tanks. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - PT Pertamina International Refinery (KPI) Unit Cilacap confirmed that the burning tank in the Cilacap Refinery area, Central Java, had been successfully localized and until Saturday, November 13 at midnight last night intense extinguishing efforts were carried out.

While holding a press conference at the PT KPI Unit Cilacap office, General Manager Refinery Unit IV Cilacap - PT KPI Eko Sunarno said the fire that occurred at 19.10 WIB struck Tank 36 T-102 at the same time as lightning.

"This tank contains about 31,000 kiloliters of Pertalite components. It is still a component, not yet a Pertalite product. Thank God we can isolate the condition of this tank (localized, ed.)," he explained, as quoted by Antara.

Thus, he said, only Tank 36 T-102 caught fire, while other tanks in the vicinity could be secured and currently being refrigerated.

Regarding the process unit, he said that his party can adjust to follow the transfer of the tank, so that everything can run normally.

"We are only adjusting the capacity. The transfer of Pertalite products to the Lomanis TBBM (fuel oil terminal) is also still ongoing from Tank 36 T-101 and thank God we can control it," he said.

He said that his party also carried out intensive extinguishing efforts by using the High Capacity Foam Monitor.

"Hopefully with one shot it can be extinguished," he said.

Furthermore, Eko said that the fire did not cause any casualties because all workers in the refinery area, especially those from third parties, had been evacuated.

In addition, he said, his party is also working with the Lomanis Village, Cilacap District, to evacuate a number of residents who live near the location of the fire.

According to him, the traffic flow around the refinery area is also diverted by passing the new road.

"We are supported by the Kodim, Cilacap Police, forkompimda, the environmental service, BPBD, all working together. Hopefully we can deal with this (fire, ed.) quickly, so it doesn't have too big an impact on refinery operations," said Eko.