Balikpapan
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| Balikpapan |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Mayor | Imdaad Hamid |
| Area | |
| - City | 503.3 km² (194.33 sq mi) |
| Population | |
| - City (2005) | 500,000 |
The city of Balikpapan is a seaport located on the eastern, Indonesian shoreline of the island of Borneo. Situated on an inlet of the Makassar Strait and surrounded by Balikpapan Bay, it has a longitude of 1.0°–1.5° South and a latitude of 116.5°–117.5° East and covers 503.3 km².[citation needed]. Balikpapan is about 115 km from Samarinda, the capital of East Kalimantan. With a population of approximately 500,000 (2005), it is the second largest city of the province of East Kalimantan.
Balikpapan is sometimes called the "Main Gate" of East Kalimantan. It is a center for Indonesia's petroleum, mining, and timber industries. It has several major harbors including Semayang and Somber, and a port used by the petroleum industry. It is also home to Sepinggan International Airport.
The population consists primarily of Dayak, Bugis, and Javanese.
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[edit] History
[edit] Balikpapan in legend
According to legend, a princess was sent away by her father, the king, to protect her from his enemies. The infant princess was tied onto some planks and cast into the sea, where the waves turned her upside down. A fisherman discovered the planks, which had washed ashore. When he turned the planks over, he found the young princess tied to the plank. The place where she was found was called Balikpapan, which means "beneath the planks" in the local language.
[edit] Founding of the city
On February 10, 1897, the Mathilda Corporation pioneered oil drilling in the area, and the date of the drilling is considered the official founding date of the city.[citation needed]
[edit] World War II
On January 24, 1942, the Naval Battle of Balikpapan occurred, in which American destroyers damaged a Japanese troop convoy in the Makassar Strait near Balikpapan.
In 1944, the United States Army Air Forces took off from the Indonesian island of Morotai to cut off the oil supply to the Japanese fleet in Balikpapan, the last of its kind remaining in the Pacific.
The Battle of Balikpapan (1945) was the concluding stage of the Borneo Campaign (1945). It occurred between July and July 21, 1945, and Allied forces recaptured the area during this battle.
[edit] Politics
In 2006, Imdaad Hamid was elected the mayor of Balikpapan.
[edit] Administration zone
Balikpapan is bordered by the following:
- Kutai Kartanagara Regency (in the North)
- Makassar Strait (in the South and East)
- Penajam Paser Utara Regency (in the West)
[edit] Geography
The topography of the municipality of Balikpapan is generally hilly (85%), with only small areas of flatland (15%), particularly along the coast and surrounding the hilly areas. The hills are less than 100 meters higher than the adjacent valleys.
The altitude of Balikpapan ranges from 0 to 80 meters above sea level.
Most of the soil in Balikpapan contains yellow-reddish podsolic soil and alluvial and quartz sand, making it extremely prone to erosion.
[edit] Airport
Balikpapan's airport is the Sepinggan International Airport. This is the second busiest Indonesian airport after Soekarno-Hatta International Airport [citation needed] and permits large aircraft.
The airport is one of the five principle sites in Indonesia where Muslims begin the pilgrimage to Mecca, the "Hajj". Between 1996 and 1997, the airport served over 4,500 East Kalimantan pilgrims, and from 1997 to 1998, it served pilgrims from East Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, Central Sulawesi, and North Sulawesi.
[edit] Oil refinery
The Balikpapan Oil Refinery is located on the shore of Balikpapan Bay and covers an area of 2.5 km². Established in 1922, it is the oldest refinery in the area. It was destroyed in World War II by the Allies of World War II and re-built in 1950. The refinery has two subunits, Balikpapan I and Balikpapan II.
[edit] Balikpapan I
Balikpapan I consists of two raw oil refinery units that produce naphtha, kerosene, gasoline, diesel fuel, and residue and one high-vacuum unit that produces 100 tonnes (approx 98 tons) of paraffin oil distillate (POD), used as raw material for wax factories. The wax itself has various grades and is sold domestically and internationally.
[edit] Balikpapan II
Opened on November 1, 1983, Balikpapan II has a hydro-skimming and hydro-cracking refinery and produces petrol, LPG, naphtha, kerosene, and diesel fuel.
[edit] Shopping and economy
The city has several shopping centers built by private companies, including Plaza Balikpapan (or 'Balikpapan Center'), Plaza Rapak, Mal Fantasy in Balikpapan Baru estate and newly open Makro, the hypermarket. Index Furnishing for big selection for furniture and ACE hardware for home supplies. There are many traditional markets in Balikpapan such as Klandasan Market, Kebun Sayur Market, Baru Market, and Buton Market. Many different fruits and vegetables are sold at Buton Market. Upcoming spots still under construction are Pasar Baru Square with a lot famous brand already sign up and also Balikpapan Super Block.
Balikpapan's economic growth is faster than in other cities in East Kalimantan.[citation needed]
The city has regular problems with electricity and water supply, which may be due to the city's rapid economic growth and lack of long-term planning. Balikpapan residents experience blackouts (mati lampu) of several hours three to four times a week. There are also water shortages (mati air), which sometimes last for more than a week.
[edit] Trivia
- The Balikpapan beancurd industrial area covers 90,000 m².
[edit] Kariangau Industrial Zone
To face globalization, the government has declared 13 large areas in eastern Indonesia as developed areas. These areas are called integrated economic development zones (KAPET) and have been established by presidential decrees.
There is one integrated economic development zone in each province; Sasamba is the one in East Kalimantan. To attract investors, the government provides fiscal and non-fiscal assistance to support economic activities. The purpose is to develop eastern Indonesia, improve the lives of its people, and raise the economic level to that of its western Indonesian counterparts.
Sasamba is expected to support economic growth in the area and its surroundings, which have agricultural and fishery resources.
Sasamba is managed by a manager council (BP) that has representatives from local and national government bodies. As well as its main duty, BP Sasamba supervises development in Sasamba. The development of the Kariangau Industrial Zone is a priority because it is expected to be the core of Sasamba.
The Kariangau Industrial Zone (KIZ/KIK) covers 50 km² comprising the Kariangau industrial area and its development area. The developed area covers 15 km². The rest is for future development.
The KIZ/KIK development area is relatively unused for economic purposes. It consists mostly of coarse grass, bushes, and forest. Swidden agriculture is also still practiced here. Based on the physical condition, this area has potential for industry. However, it cannot be expanded northwards, for it is bordered by the Sungai Wain protected forest.
[edit] Industrial activities
Industrial activities play an important role in KIZ/KIK, which is planned to cover a large area. The dominant activities are large-scale and medium-scale industries. The products produced in this area include food and beverages, rubber, processed wood, chemicals, metal, charcoal, and others. Almost all raw materials used in KIZ come from local sources, particularly agriculture.
[edit] Warehousing
The available warehouse functions as temporary storage for both finished products and raw materials prior to distribution. A new warehouse area will later be located near the seaport.
[edit] Seaports
The Kariangau Industrial Zone will receive a seaport for goods distribution, particularly manufactured products. It will also be provided with loading and unloading facilities and equipment for containers. The seaport is to be prepared as an export gateway, so that it will include an established export documentation and customs office.
[edit] Waste processing facilities
The Kariangau Industrial Zone will also be provided with a solid and liquid waste processing facility. This will process the industrial waste before it is recycled, after which the cleaned water is returned to the sea or river. A central facility is planned, so that each part of the industrial zone will not be required to build its own.
[edit] Somber Industrial Zone
The town government decided that small-scale industries scattered all around Balikpapan should be developed and improved. For environmental reasons, it was decided in 1994 to relocate small-scale/household industries. In 1995, the Somber Industrial Zone facilities were built for this purpose, but in 1997, the development was delayed due to a lack of funds. In 2000, the program was reinstated.
The Somber Industrial Zone plan seeks to:
- Relocate small-scale/household industries in Balikpapan
- Guide and develop small business
- Increase businessmen and employee welfare with fair competition and open opportunities for extensification and diversification
- Establish a multi-functional, well-formed, and representative small-scale/household industrial area.
- Establish an 80-family facility for beancurd/tempe makers
- Build up other small-scale industries along with the beancurd/tempe industry, including charcoal bricks, nata de soya, cassava products, confections, toys, and waste processing
[edit] Zone B Mangrove Area
This mangrove-dominated zone has moderate eco-tourism activities and facilities. It functions as a supporting zone for Balikpapan’s eco-tourism industry. The Mangrove Area's operations are based on the following considerations:
- The Mangrove Area is a buffer zone for land and sea life.
- The Mangrove Area is intended for tourists concerned about the environment. Efforts are made to decrease any negative influence on the ecosystem.
