RI Defence Minister Visited an Explosive Material Factory
Indonesian Defense Minister, Purnomo Yusgiantoro, accompanied by General Secretary of Security and Defense, Directorate General for Defense Facilities of Defense Ministry, Directorate General of Defense Potential, Division Head of Research and Development, Minister Advisor Staff and Director of Engineering and Industry had a visit to PT Dahana (Persero) in Tasikmalaya and Subang, on December 3 and December 4, 2010.
On the first day at Tasikmalaya office, Harry Sampurno, Dahana’s Director of Finance and Business Development presented the topic of explosives material industry development, particularly its connection with the autonomy of explosives for national defense.
On this occasion, the Minister of Defense witnessed the signing of research and development cooperation between PT Dahana and the Air Force Office of Research and Development for blast effect bomb (a type of training bomb for fighter aircraft) design improvements and certification. This cooperation is a follow up to the Memorandum of Understanding between PT Dahana (Persero) and the Air Force, signed in the presence of the President of the Republic of Indonesia on November 10, 2010 at the opening of 2010 Indodefense in Jakarta.
The Minister of Defense then visited the dayagel emulsion and shaped charges explosives plants which are used for mining applications, including oil and gas sectors, and can be used to support the needs of Main Defense Equipment System (alutsista) of the Indonesian National Armed Force. The Minister of Defense also had the opportunity to join the shaped charges blasting trial, thus he was awarded with a certificate of honorary Shotfire by PT Dahana (Persero).
Next, the minister visited PT Dahana (Persero) office in Subang, West Java. The area covers 595 Ha of land. There the Minister of Defense laid the first construction stone of Energetic Materials Center (EMC), which preparation had started on October 10, 2010. He then signed the development inscription of EMC and observed the sites planned for military explosives complex, such as propellant plant.
The EMC integrated area, which was built in cooperation with a national contractor PT PP Tbk, is planned to be completed no later than 2012. The high-energetic material industrial complex area will reach a total width of 100 Ha, not including the Safety Distance area.
The Energetic Material Center will be a center for research and development of high-energetic materials all over Southeast Asia. New plants, magazines, laboratories, training and research centers and other supporting facilities will be built in the area. Several explosive plants and magazines are already being operated at the moment.
PT Dahana (Persero) as a State-Owned Company must be ready to support government programs in the autonomy of defense and commercial explosives.
In its more than 40 year journey, PT Dahana (Persero) as one of the Strategic Industries in Indonesia, has always been consistent in providing explosives material services as an integrated manner, either in the sectors of Oil and Gas, General Mining or Quarry and Construction and has contributed in supporting the Main Defense Equipment System with its complete facilities, cutting-edge technology and qualified human resources.
