Balikpapan is a seaport city on the eastern coast of the island of Borneo, Indonesia, in the East Kalimantan province, a resource-rich region well known for its timber, mining, and petroleum export products. Two harbors, Semayang and Kariangau (a ferry harbour), and the Sepinggan International Airport are the main transportation ports to the city. The city has a population of 469,884, making it the second-largest city in East Kalimantan, after the capital Samarinda.
History
Prior to the oil boom of the early 1900s, Balikpapan was an isolated Bugis fishing village. Balikpapan's name (lit. balik is behind and papan is a plank) comes from a folk story where a local king threw his newborn daughter into the sea to protect her from his enemies. The baby was tied beneath some planks, which were discovered by a fisherman.[citation needed]
In 1897, a small refinery company began the first oil drilling. Construction of roads, wharves, warehouses, offices, barracks, and bungalows started when a Dutch oil company arrived in the area. On January 24, 1942, a Japanese invasion convoy arrived at Balikpapan and was attacked by four USN destroyers which sank three Japanese transports. The Japanese landed and after a sharp but short fight the Japanese army defeated the Dutch garrison. The defenders had partially destroyed the oil refinery and other facilities. After this the Japanese massacred many of the Europeans they has captured. Several campaigns followed until the 1945 Battle of Balikpapan, which concluded the Allied Forces' Borneo campaign, after which they took control of Borneo island.
Extensive wartime damage curtailed almost all oil production in the area until major repairs were performed by the Royal Dutch Shell company. Shell continued operating in the area until Indonesian state-owned Pertamina took it over in 1965.[2] Lacking technology, skilled manpower, and capital to explore the petroleum region, Pertamina sublet petroleum concession contracts to multinational companies in the 1970s.
With the only oil refinery site in the region, Balikpapan emerged as a revitalized centre of petroleum production. Pertamina opened its regional headquarters in the city, followed by branch offices established by international oil companies. Hundreds of labourers from other parts of Indonesia, along with skilled expatriates who served as managers and engineers, flocked into the city.
Administration
Balikpapan is bordered by the following:
- Kutai Kartanegara Regency (to the North)
- Makassar Strait (to the South and East)
- North Penajam Paser Regency (to the West)
Belum ada tanggapan untuk "Balikpapan - East Borneo (Kalimantan Timur)"
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