Welcome to Balikpapan!
Balikpapan is a city of 850,000 people (2019) in East Kalimantan. It serves as headquarters for international oil companies, mining companies, and related support industries operating in and out of eastern Kalimantan. It is a relatively clean city, with clear blue skies, but not much by way of nightlife. The population is a mix, with lots of Javanese due to transmigration, lots of people from Sulawesi, and of course, the locals. The people are quiet and polite, and the pace is slow and relaxed.
Balikpapan is a seaport city in East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Located on the east coast of the island of Borneo, the city is the financial center of Kalimantan and the main gateway to Nusantara, the future capital of Indonesia. Balikpapan is the city with the largest economy in Kalimantan with an estimated 2016 GDP of Rp 73.18 trillion. The city has the busiest airport in Kalimantan, namely Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Sepinggan Airport. Port of Semayang was the second busiest seaport in East Kalimantan, after Samarinda. With a population of 688,318 according to the 2020 census, Balikpapan is the second most populous city in East Kalimantan, after Samarinda. Balikpapan has been consistently ranked as one of the most liveable cities in Indonesia. Balikpapan was originally a fishing village built by Buginese people in the 19th century. The first oil drilling began in Balikpapan on 10 February 1897, which was later set as the anniversary of the city. In 1899, the Dutch East Indies colonial administration granted township status to Balikpapan. In 1907, Bataafsche Petroleum Maatschappij (BPM) made the city its headquarters and imported skilled laborers, engineers, and managers from overseas. Subsequently, numerous multinational companies came to Balikpapan to invest in the oil industry. This resulted in the economic boom of Balikpapan and attracted many migrants and expatriates. During World War II, the Empire of Japan occupied the city in 1942, as part of the occupation of Indonesia, and it was bombed by the Allies in the first Balikpapan Battle in 1942 and the second battle in 1945. The battles impacted critical infrastructure, including the oil refinery stations and seaports which were completely burned to the ground. Upon Indonesia's independence, BPM extended its activities in Balikpapan until 1965 when Pertamina, the Indonesian state-owned oil company, took control over the ownership of BPM and its oil exploration activities.