OREANDA-NEWS.  July 17, 2012. PT Pertamina (Persero) continues to put in effort to overcome natural obstacles and limited infrastructure that hamper the distribution of fuel in West Kalimantan, reported the press-centre of PT Pertamina.

The constraints in fuel distribution is apparent during dry season. Within 3-4 months, from Mei to August, Pertamina has to spend additional distribution cost of Rp 2 -3 billion per month to ensure that fuels are well-received by public.

This is because during the dry season, the depth of Kapuas River in Sintang District decreases drastically. During normal condition, the depth of the river reaches 8-11 meters. But during dry season, it drops to 40 cm, preventing SPOB (Self Propelled Oil Barge) to pass through.

"In the past, this only happens once in 3 to 4 years. But in the past 3 years, it happens every dry season," said Pertamina's Director for Marketing and Trading Hanung Budya.

As the solution, Pertamina reroutes the fuel distribution by pumping out fuel from SPOB vessel to tank trucks at Sanggau area, around 97 km away from Sintang, and bring in the fuel stock through land. This distribution process takes up longer time and is exacerbated by poor road condition.

"The distance between Pontianak Fuel Terminal and Sintang Terminal is 514 km and is most efficiently reached by Kapuas River. When the water debit of Kapuas River decreases, additional cost incurred is around Rp 2-3 billion a month," he said.

For long term solution, Pertamina has built a mini depot in Sanggau District with the capacity of 10,000KL with water depth during dry season of 11 meters. With this mini depot and Sintang Fuel Terminal, the middle region of West Kalimantan will have fuel storage facility of 30,000 KL.

Once Sanggau mini depot is completed by the end of this year, it will be able to store 3-month fuel stock for West Kalimantan region. As such, stock availability is ensured," Hanung said.

However, the road to the mini depot is still in the form of stony red earth, which is risky during wet season. Some of the wood bridges too need reinforcement.

"As such, local government is expected to participate in providing sufficient road infrastructure for the alternative route from Sanggau mini depot to consumer receiving points," Hanung said.

Hanung also expressed that judging from the real condition on field, Pertamina is considering the possibility for Pontianak to have large scale Fuel Terminal carrying 100,000KL fuels. The fuel terminal will be very strategic in ensuring fuel stock availability in Kalimantan and as reserve for demand in Jakarta and neighboring areas.

"We see the increasing urgency and strategic value of large scale fuel terminal, which is stocking 100,000KL fuels, in Pontianak to ensure the security of stock in Kalimantan. Besides, Pontianak is close enough to Jakarta, so the fuel terminal can be back up for the demand in Jakarta and neighboring areas," he said.