Pertamina to increase propylene production from W. Java refinery

State oil and gas company PT.Pertamina said on Wednesday it had open pre-qualification to revamp Balongan refinery?s ethylene recovery unit (ERU) with the aim of increasing propylene production by 300,000 MT per annum.

He did not say current propylene production from Balongan

Director Atmomartoyo said that revamping works would cost Pertamina US$150 million. Works are scheduled to commence 2007, with completion in 2009, he said.

The Balongan refinery, which process crude oil into fuel-based products, has a production capacity of 125,000 barrels per day.

Pertamina is planning on investing heavily on its refineries to reduce production of residual products and increase high-value products such as propylene. The company?s CEO Ari Soemarno recently said that increasing high value products production would enhance the refineries competitive edge, which the company needed in competing in Indonesian downstream market. (godang)