Pertamina succeeds in producing gasoil via co-processing technology

State-owned oil and gas firm PT Pertamina said its Refinery Unit II in Dumai, Riau Province, has succeeded in producing gas oil through co-processing of fossil fuel and fat oil called refined bleached deodorized palm oil (or RBDPO).

Pertamina said in a statement that Minister of Research and Technology Mohammad Nasir and Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) Rector Kardarsyah Suryadi, accompanied by Pertamina senior officials, on Thursday visited the Dumai refinery to observe progress of the co-processing program.  

Pertamina said that the co-processing at Dumai refinery utilizew a second-generation catalyst technology which had been developed by ITB since 2008. “Following years of research, the catalyst is now ready for use,” Pertamina said.

Following the successful development of the catalyst, the CPO is processed at the Distillate Hydrotreating Unit (DHDT) of the Dumai refinery with capacity of 12.6 million barrels steam per day.  The co-processing at the DHDT can absorb up to 12 percent RBDPO feed.

Minister Nasir said that the use of up to 12 percent RBDPO feed will allow the country to cut down crude import worth up to US$1.6 million per year.  He expects the co-processing program to be further developed to provide greater financial savings for the country.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak