Shell conducts Polymer-Modified Bitumen Technology Expose and introduces new premium Bitumen solution in Indonesia

Darwin Silalahi, President Director of PT Shell Indonesia, said, “Shell remains committed to power progress together with Indonesia by offering tailored solutions to support future development in the country. We are happy to be the partner in Indonesia’s infrastructure development and proud to expand our local business presence with a new high-quality ‘Made in Indonesia’ Shell Bitumen product.”

Compared to traditional bitumen, Shell Cariphalte PMB has better elasticity and deformation resistance which can be used to pave more durable pavements better suited for Indonesia’s high traffic loads and tropical climate.

Supply of Shell Cariphalte PMB will mainly be from a newly commissioned production facility in Balaraja, operated by PT Buntara Megah Inti, Shell Bitumen‘s distributor in Indonesia. The facility is capable of producing the entire Shell Cariphalte range of PMB grades, including but not limited to PG70, PG 76, PG82 specifications. The PMBs will also be available in both Fuelsafe and Low Temperature formulations.

The new product introduction and local production is in line with the growing need for more durable road solutions to support Indonesia’s economic growth and expand infrastructure connectivity throughout the archipelago.

“To enable sustainable industrial and economic progress of Indonesia, there is a need for greater infrastructure development. For the road and airport sectors, we are looking to adopt advanced solutions like using polymer modified bitumen, which can provide better performance and durability over an extended period of time,” said Ir. Hediyanto W Husaini, Chairman of Indonesian Road Development Association (Himpunan Pengembangan Jalan Indonesia).

The Shell Cariphalte product range has been used in iconic roads, highways, airports and racetracks projects around the world. Most recently, the taxiway at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport will be paved with Shell Cariphalte PG76 Fuelsafe, having met stringent project requirements. Shell technical advisors worked closely with all project stakeholders to ensure a fit-for-purpose pavement solution. The Fuelsafe formulation offers better damage resistance to fuel spillage, reducing the risk of pothole formation and therefore prolonging the lifespan of the taxiway.

“We at Shell are global leaders in bitumen technology and we look forward to collaborating with all stakeholders to improve Indonesia’s infrastructure and provide fit-for-purpose bitumen solutions that are in line with the country’s growth aspirations. This local production capability also enables us to react faster to market demand, be closer to our customers and better serve their needs,” said Thanes Rajatapiti, Regional General Manager, Shell Bitumen Asia.

Successful Shell Cariphalte PMB trials have also been conducted at select sections of the Jakarta Outer Ring Toll Road, the national highway in Magelang and the Sultan Hasanuddin Airport in Makassar. Positive feedback has been received from project stakeholders on pavement performance and workability.

Note to Editors

• Shell is a leader in bitumen technology, and recently published the “Shell Bitumen Handbook, Sixth Edition”, which covers the latest topics in bitumen technology and application.
• Shell Bitumen operates a network of Regional Technical Centres located in key regions (Shanghai, China, Strasbourg, France, and Bangkok, Thailand.) Shell has also established its global bitumen R&D Centre in Bangalore, India.
  
• Shell supplies a wide range of high quality bitumen products, from standard-grade bitumen to special polymer-modified bitumen (PMB), which are marketed under the brand name Shell Cariphalte. Shell Cariphalte has been used in a number of iconic projects for applications such as highways, urban roads and porous asphalts for urban drainage systems. It is ideal for use in heavily trafficked locations such as airfields, racetracks and bus lanes. It can be particularly beneficial in heavy duty applications such as rail, ports, bridge decks, crack relief systems or overlaying concrete pavements and expansion joints.
  
• Shell is the world’s largest international bitumen marketer, and delivers enough bitumen to pave a one-lane kilometre road every four minutes.
  
• Shell Bitumen’s solutions have also been used on a number of Formula One racetracks: Sakhir (Bahrain), Marina Bay Street Circuit (Singapore), Hockenheim (Germany) and Yas Marina (Abu Dhabi) and Sepang (Malaysia). Shell has also recently paved the Bugatti Circuit in LeMans, France.
  

About Shell Indonesia

The history of Royal Dutch Shell in Indonesia started over 120 years ago, following its first oil discovery in Pangkalan Brandan, North Sumatra.

Shell today has a strong downstream presence in Indonesia. It was the first international petroleum retail brand in the country and is now a leading international oil company (IOC) with 83 operating sites in Greater Jakarta, Bandung, and North Sumatera. In 2006, Shell started its commercial fuels, marines and bitumen businesses in Indonesia, providing oil products and related technical support to the industrial, transport and mining sectors. Shell is also recognised as a leading international company with the largest lubricant market share in Indonesia, after Pertamina, serving motorists and industrial customers. In Upstream sector, Shell Indonesia is the PSC operator of deep-water block Pulau Moa Selatan and a strategic partner of Inpex, Masela PSC operator which includes the Abadi gas field.