Supporting the 2024 Hajj Departure, Pertamina Plaju Refinery Ensures Avtur Production Meets Demand

Plaju, May 16, 2024 - As the 1445 Hajj season approaches, Pertamina Plaju Refinery continues to ensure that the supply of Avtur (aviation fuel) meets the expected increase in demand.

The management and employees strive to enhance the reliability of the refinery’s technology, specifically the Crude Distillation Unit (CDU), an Avtur production unit, achieving a range of 20-25 Miles/Thousand Barrels (MB) per month. It was done by regulating the supply continuity of crude injection and full Avtur mode since June 2023.

Perliansyah, Acting Area Manager of Communication, Relations & CSR of PT Kilang Pertamina Internasional Refinery Unit III Plaju, stated that the company will fully support the success of the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage by optimizing Avtur production and supply. “Pertamina Plaju Refinery is ready to support the government in organizing this year's Hajj pilgrimage,” he said.

Syafitri Irwan, Head of the South Sumatra Regional Office of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, said that this year, the Palembang embarkation point will send 8,506 prospective Hajj pilgrims (JCH).

The details include 7,295 JCH from South Sumatra, 1,116 JCH from Bangka Belitung, and 95 Hajj officials divided into 19 flight groups, departing in the first and second waves. The first group of Hajj pilgrims were dispatched on May 12, 2024.

Noting the Increase in Demand

Data collected shows that the demand for Avtur at the Pertamina Plaju Refinery in April 2024 was 23,760 barrels, an increase of 189% from the total Avtur demand in March 2024, which was 12,514 barrels. To ensure the security of Avtur supply, RU III aims to produce more Avtur than the rising demand.

The distribution of Avtur from the Pertamina Plaju Refinery is in collaboration with PT Pertamina Patra Niaga Regional Sumbagsel, and it is delivered directly to the SMB II Airport Aircraft Fueling Depot (DPPU).

Ensuring Product Quality

In December 2020, the Pertamina Plaju Refinery successfully resumed Avtur production through the Avtur Reborn program, which combined crude oil and was supported by the independent construction of a New Avtur Treater Unit (ATU), resulting in a production of 10-15 MB from CDU IV, sufficient to meet 100% of the Avtur demand in the Sumbagsel region.

Avtur production at the Plaju Refinery has increased following the continuous supply of crude injection and full Avtur mode in one of the CDU units, boosting Avtur production to 20-25 MB per month, up from the previous 10-15 MB per month.

With this increased production capacity of up to 25 MB per month, the Pertamina Plaju Refinery can expand its market beyond Sumbagsel.

In a separate occasion, Fadjar Djoko Santoso, Vice President of Corporate Communication at PT Pertamina (Persero), added that Pertamina ensures the availability and supply of Avtur aviation fuel to meet the needs of the 2024 Hajj flights, particularly in the Palembang area and nationwide.

“Pertamina ensures energy availability so that the departure of Hajj pilgrims is smooth and comfortable,” Fadjar explained.

Pertamina, as a leading company in the energy transition, is committed to supporting the Net Zero Emission 2060 target by continuously promoting programs that directly impact the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) achievement. All these efforts align with Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) implementation across all Pertamina's business lines and operations.**