Pertamina Receives New Tanker MT Sanggau

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - State-owned oil and gas company PT Pertamina will operate a new 40,000 long ton tanker for the transport of crude oil in the country.

The MT Sanggau, built by Newtimes Shipbuilding Co Ltd, China, is the 66th unit of ship owned by Pertamina.

Altogether, Pertamina operates 273 units of ships including leased ones to secure distribution of energy in the country, its senior vice president for marketing Mulyono said here on Friday.

The US$31 million ship set sail on Friday from the shipyard of Newtimes Shipbuilding in Jinjiang, the Chinese province of Jiangsu. It is expected to start operation early March.

Originally delivery was to take place in early March , but it was completed earlier than schedule, Mulyono said.

Pertamina also will receive two medium range ships measuring 40,000 DWT from New Times Shipbuilding Co Ltd .

The two ships - christened MT Serui and MT Sanana would be delivered before the end of the first quarter of this year.

Earlier in 2012, New Times Shipbuilding already built a 85,000 LDWT tanker the GamÂkonora for Pertamina.

Mulyono described the addition of new ships as a breakthrough to improve efficiency in the transport cost for crude oil and oil products to strengthen its competitiveness.

Efficiency in the transport cost is a key to success in competition in the downstream oil and gas business, he said.

"The addition of the ships will contribute to the government program of applying the cabotage principle to increase domination of ships flying Indonesian flag in domestic shipping," he said.

Wianda Pusponegoro, Pertamina vice president for corporate communication Pertamina, said the new ship will also be operated bin the transport of oil fuels.

By the end of 2016, Pertamina will own 72 units of ship including 34 units built domestically . Four of the units are in the process of construction. (WDY)