Taiwan's CPC pushes back No 3 reformer restart to Jan '05

08 November 2004 01:53  [Source: ICIS news]

SINGAPORE (CNI)--Taiwan's state-owned Chinese Petroleum Corp (CPC) has pushed back the restart of its mothballed 15 000 bbl/day No 3 naphtha reformer to January from December, a source close to the company told CNI on Monday.

The move to restart the No 3 reformer was aimed at taking advantage of the high aromatic prices, he said. The reformer has been mothballed for many years, and it is the oldest reformer at CPC.

Also, the restart will also make up for a production capacity loss from a 30-day turnaround at its 20 000 bbl/day No 4 reformer, the source said. The turnaround plan, which is to begin on 14 December, will include a catalyst replacement.

The delay was partly due to extra time needed to prepare the reformer for its restart. The exact restart date has not been finalised.

The No 3 reformer will continue to run next year even after the No 4 reformer returns from its turnaround, the source said. However, the No 3 reformer may not be as efficient as the other three newer reformers, he said.

Besides the No 3 and No 4 reformers, CPC also operates a 30 000 bbl/day No 5 reformer and a 25 000 bbl/day No 6 reformers. The reformers can produce benzene, toluene, xylene and reformates. All reformers are located at Lin Yuan and Talin in southern Taiwan.

By: Edgar Ang
+65 6780 4359

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