Indonesia’s state oil firm Pertamina will partner with Celanese Corp. of Dallas to develop synthetic fuel-ethanol projects in the Asian country, Celanese reported.
Under a joint statement of cooperation, Celanese and Pertamina will define potential supply arrangements, production locations, and distribution strategies. This phase along with final investment decisions by each company and acquisition of all regulatory approvals, could lead to production start-up in about 30 months, Celanese said.
The partnership will use Celanese’s proprietary TCX ethanol process technology.
Indonesia’s current demand for transportation fuel will reach about 25 million tonnes and increase by 6%/year through at least 2020, it said. A 10% blend of high-octane fuel ethanol by 2020 would potentially require as many as four world-scale TCX Technology production units, said Celanese, and therefore reduce Pertamina’s gasoline import requirements by more than 30 million bbl/year.
In addition, high-octane fuel ethanol, which improves automobile tailpipe emissions, also may assist Pertamina to meet Indonesia’s goals of improving its gasoline and air-quality standards.
