Firm eyes refinery restart in days

Danger rising: The blaze raging at the Balongan refinery in Indramayu, West Java, as firefighters battle the huge fire that engulfed part of the complex. — AFP

STATE oil company Pertamina said it hoped to restore operations at its Balongan oil refinery in West Java in four or five days, as firefighters worked to extinguish a massive blaze that broke out overnight, injuring five people.

Pertamina shut the plant and evacuated about 950 nearby residents, with videos shared on social media showing huge flames engulfing the 125,000 barrels per day facility, while a large explosion could be heard.