JAKARTA, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesian government has expedited the commencement of production at the country's largest oil refinery in Balikpapan town of East Kalimantan province, a minister announced on Monday.

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia has instructed officials at the refinery to begin production in July, ahead of the initial target of September, according to the acting Director General of Oil and Gas at the ministry Dadan Kusdiana.

"The minister requested the production to start in July to bolster domestic energy security after a meeting with the state-owned oil and gas company PT Pertamina, which manages the refinery," said Kusdiana on Monday.

Deputy President Director of PT Pertamina Wiko Migantoro said that the refinery's capacity would increase by 100,000 barrels per day, bringing its total daily capacity to 360,000 barrels.

The refinery, part of Indonesia's Refinery Development Master Plan, is a national strategic initiative. ■