Pertamina Petrochemical Trading and Pupuk Kaltim Strengthen Synergy to Support National Soda Ash Industry Independence

Samarinda, 11 November 2025 — PT Pertamina Petrochemical Trading (Pertachem), a subsidiary of PT Pertamina Patra Niaga, has entered into a strategic collaboration with PT Pupuk Kalimantan Timur (Pupuk Kaltim) through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the domestic marketing of Soda Ash products.

This collaboration marks an important milestone in strengthening Indonesia’s chemical industry supply chain and supporting efforts to enhance domestic raw material independence, particularly for key sectors such as glass, detergent, and water treatment industries. Soda Ash produced by Pupuk Kaltim will also be distributed to support the energy sector, including Pertamina Hulu Rokan.

As part of Pertamina’s Subholding Commercial & Trading, Pertachem actively contributes to meeting the needs of national industries through the marketing of strategic petrochemical products. Pertachem’s regional reputation has been recognized with its inclusion in the Top 10 Asia Pacific Chemical Distributors by ICIS, underscoring the company’s reliability and competitiveness in managing the chemical supply chain.

Pupuk Kaltim is currently constructing Indonesia’s first Soda Ash plant with an annual production capacity of 300,000 tons of Soda Ash and 300,000 tons of Ammonium Chloride as a by-product, targeted to begin operations in March 2028. The establishment of this facility marks a significant milestone in ensuring a sustainable domestic Soda Ash supply while reducing dependence on imports.

The signing ceremony was attended by Oos Kosasih, President Director of PT Pertamina Petrochemical Trading (Pertachem), and Gusrizal, President Director of PT Pupuk Kalimantan Timur (Pupuk Kaltim).

On this occasion, Oos Kosasih, President Director of Pertachem, stated that this collaboration represents a strategic step in reinforcing synergy among State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) while strengthening national energy and industrial independence.

“This collaboration is a tangible form of synergy among State-Owned Enterprises to strengthen Indonesia’s petrochemical industry ecosystem. We are optimistic that this partnership will not only expand Pertachem’s portfolio but also contribute to enhancing domestic raw material independence and improving the efficiency of the national supply chain,” said Oos Kosasih.

Meanwhile, Gusrizal, President Director of Pupuk Kaltim, emphasized that the development of the Soda Ash plant is part of the company’s efforts to advance industrial downstreaming and promote national industrial self-sufficiency. This initiative also demonstrates Pupuk Kaltim’s commitment to supporting the Net Zero Emission (NZE) 2060 target through the application of circular economy principles in its Soda Ash production process.

“Pupuk Kaltim will continue to innovate by developing high value-added products as part of the national downstreaming agenda. The construction of Indonesia’s first Soda Ash plant is a testament to our commitment to strengthening national industrial independence, and through synergy with Pertachem, we are confident that this product will be optimally distributed to various user sectors,” said Gusrizal.

This collaboration reflects the spirit of synergy among State-Owned Enterprises in reinforcing national energy and industrial independence while delivering tangible benefits to customers and industry players across Indonesia.

Through this synergistic initiative, Pertachem reaffirms its role in strengthening domestic supply chains and supporting raw material self-sufficiency — continuously driving Indonesia’s industrial growth toward a resilient and competitive future, in line with the spirit of Energizing Your Business.