Indonesia’s Pertamina eyes 50-60% Sept run rate at Balongan RCC

06 September 2011 10:12  [Source: ICIS news]

SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Indonesia’s state-owned refiner Pertamina expects to run its residual catalytic cracking (RCC) unit at Balongan in West Java at 50-60% of capacity for the whole of September because of mechanical issues, said a source close to the company on Tuesday.

The RCC has a nameplate propylene capacity of 250,000-260,000 tonnes/year, but usually produces around 200,000 tonnes of the monomer on an annual basis, the source said.

Its operating rate was reduced to around 60% in end-August from 80-90% previously, the source said.

In the second half of September, the RCC unit is expected to run at a lower rate of around 50%, the source said, without providing further details.

Separately, Pertamina is unlikely to start trial runs at its new 178,000 tonne/year propylene facility at Balongan before October, he said.

“The trial runs at the ROPP (RCC Off-Gas to Propylene) unit have been delayed because of a mechanical fault,” the source added.

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By: Peh Soo Hwee
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