Pertamina, Repsol team up to produce TDAE

By Bernard Loebs

State owned oil and gas firm PT Pertamina (Persero) has forged alliance with Repsol Lubricants, Asphalts and Specialties (RLAS) to produce Treated Distillate Aromatic Extract (TDAE) at the Unit IV of Cilacap refinery (RU IV Cilacap) in Central Java.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the cooperation was signed by Pertamina?s Processing Director Rachmad Hardadi and RLAS? director Antonio Portela in early December in Jakarta.

TDAE is known in the market as the raw material for the making of tire and synthetic rubber. At present, Pertamina has been producing such product called Minarex at its Cilacap refinery. However, its quality is still less than expected, which is the reason Pertamina is now seeking to produce TDAE.

It is expected the Cilacap refinery can start producing TDAE next year using available feedstock at the refinery.

Editing by Johannes Simbolon