According to the company's deputy director for processing, Dwi Kushartojo, "Balongan is running at 80% of capacity because of a leakage at an undersea pipeline that supplies crude from storage tankers." He also confirmed that repairs to the leak would take around two weeks to complete.

Kushartojo did not elaborate on the importance of the refinery to Indonesia's oil supply but, when it was closed down for maintenance on 18 August, the Indonesian government was forced to import processed crude from Singapore to make up the shortfall from the plant.