Pertamina's refinery in Dumai raises "green coke" production

State owned oil and gas company Pertamina's oil refinery plant in Dumai, Riau province has raised the production of its "green coke", the final product in an oil refinery process, to about 1,000 tons per day, Neraca reported on Wednesday.

IG Putu Gede, the head of Pertamina's processing unit II, said in Dumai on Tuesday that the company's green coke has become popular among overseas buyers including Japan, the Netherlands and the United States.

"The Dumai refinery is the only of the country's seven oil refinery plants which is able to produce green coke," he said, adding that although the production capacity is still low compared to the world's main refineries, its quality is much better due to its low-sulfur content.

Putu said that the production of the green coke which is now sold at about US$20 per ton in international market, gave a strong added value to Pertamina's operation, particularly the Dumai refinery plant.

Green coke, one of the final products of crude oil, is produced through the solidification process.

At present the Dumai plant also produces gasoline, kerosene, diesel oil and low sulfur waxy residue with total production capacity of 180,000 barrels per day. (*)