KPB’s Geo-Stone Column Wins Award in Geneva, Saving Up to Rp53 Billion

Wednesday, 15 April 2026

An innovation by an officer at PT Kilang Pertamina Balikpapan (KPB) has once again demonstrated tangible results. Through Geo-Stone Column technology, KPB has successfully saved up to Rp53 billion in construction costs while simultaneously enhancing the safety and reliability of field projects.

This innovation received global recognition by winning a Gold Medal and a Special Award from the Croatian Association of Innovators (ARCA) at the 2026 International Exhibition of Inventions in Geneva, held March 11–15, 2026, in Geneva, Switzerland.

Asep Sulaeman, Vice President (VP) of Legal & Relations at PT KPB, expressed appreciation for this achievement. He noted that this success is the result of cross-functional collaboration and a consistent commitment to fostering innovation within KPB.

“This achievement proves that the ideas and hard work of our nation’s people can compete on the global stage and deliver solutions with tangible impact,” he stated.

The Geo-Stone Column is a soil improvement method used to address soft soil conditions in construction projects. This method involves forming columns from stacked stones within the ground, which are then reinforced with a protective layer (geomembrane). These columns help distribute the building’s load more evenly, thereby reducing the risk of ground subsidence and enhancing construction stability.

This technology has been applied in the construction of a 1-million-barrel oil storage tank at the Lawe-Lawe RDMP. The results not only improved construction quality but also delivered significant cost efficiencies.

Behind this achievement, the Bimocol Task Force continues to develop field-driven solutions. Various innovations developed previously have also received recognition within PT Pertamina, ultimately bringing Geo-Stone Column to the international stage.

The Head of the Bimocol Task Force, Radea Nasri Erfany, stated that this achievement serves as a driving force to continue innovating. “We start from real challenges on-site. The hope is that innovations like this can continue to evolve and provide broader benefits,” he concluded.