ITS and ITB lecturers involved in the Geng North project in Milan, Italy

ITS Campus, ITS News — As a campus with leading research and technology, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) received a mandate from the Special Task Force for Upstream Oil and Gas Business Activities (SKK Migas) to participate in the Kutei North Hub (KNH) or Geng North project. Together with Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), this project is an effort to develop the fastest gas potential in Indonesia.

On this occasion, ITS sent 31 lecturer delegates, one of whom was a professor of the Department of Ship Systems Engineering (Siskal) Prof. Dr. Ketut Buda Artana ST MSc. The man who is usually called Ketut revealed that he and 30 other fellow lecturers would be responsible for the Front End Engineering Design (FEED) design process. “In this project, we are also working with the ENI Cooperation Contractor (KKKS),” he added.

Ketut explained that the Geng North project is the realization of the government in realizing the Upstream Oil and Gas National Strategic Project (PSN). However, this large project has a high level of technical complexity in its execution. “So, SKK Migas gives trust to educational institutions to be involved in its development,” he explained.

The former ITS Vice Rector IV said, in the process of making FEED or simply making a blue print, requires the collaborating ITS and ITB lecturers to focus on designing the structural design of the Upstream Oil and Gas PSN. “We are involved in the preparation of the design of the floating structure body, production facilities, facilities for binding in the ocean, to land facilities,” explained the lecturer who was also once entrusted as Head of the ITS International Office.

Coordination meeting between ITS, ITB, SKK Migas, and ENI lecturers in the realization of the FEED of the North Hub Kutai project in Milan, Italy

Ketut emphasized that this project is a new challenge for ITS lecturers in deepening the world of research and technology. The reason is, this cooperation is not only a place to show off in the field of research, but also in transferring knowledge to students later. “This step is one of the other goals expected by SKK Migas,” he said.

The man born in 1971 said that the involvement of academics in this project aims to provide technical expertise support and forge them into Subject Matter Experts (SME), key players who fully understand the technicalities of a project. “This collaboration is in accordance with the concept of field development and Domestic Content Level (TKDN) in the technical project,” Ketut quoted the Deputy of SKK Migas as saying at the time.

The project, which is targeted to be completed in 2027, has started to make its mark by sending the lecturers involved to study directly at the ENI Research Center located in Milan, Italy. Currently, according to Ketut, three lecturer delegations from ITS are exploring in Milan and starting to execute the FEED design of the Geng North project. “Hopefully it can run smoothly and can bring good news for Indonesia and students in this Motherland,” Ketut hoped optimistically. (ITS HUMAS)

Reporter: Hibar Buana Puspa