Fri, 30 Jun 1995

Bechtel to build Humpuss' aromatic plant

JAKARTA (JP): PT Humpuss Aromatic has selected Bechtel of the United States to commence engineering, procurement and construction works on an US$850 million grassroots condensate processing and aromatics petrochemical facility in Aceh.

Humpuss announced yesterday that all phases of the project will be carried out on a fast track, 36-month program.

The award includes assisting Humpuss secure and guarantee the supply of condensate feedstocks, as well as the marketing and off take of fuel products.

"Bechtel is also being considered to help in operating the facilities," Edward Y. Hsi, the managing director of PT Humpuss Aromatic, said.

The plant, consisting of processing units, marine loading and unloading and off site facilities and utilities, is situated three kilometers from the Arun liquefied natural gas plant in Lhokseumawe, Aceh, which was built by Bechtel in 1977.

The new condensate processing facility will receive gas condensate by pipeline from the neighboring natural gas plant, supplemented by condensate from other fields in the region.

The facility will process 70,000 barrels of condensate per day. After the condensate processing is completed, the aromatics petrochemical section of the plant will use the heavy naphtha product from the condensate processing facility as feedstock to produce high purity aromatics -- primarily paraxylene and benzene -- and raffinates for manufacturing ethylene, propylene and other polymer feedstocks.

Output

The output of the aromatic plant, namely paraxylene, benzene and olefin feedstocks, will be sold on domestic and international markets for use in the plastics, synthetics, fibers and resins industries.

The Humpuss Group is one of the largest conglomerates in Indonesia, with core businesses in air, land and sea transportations and shipping, infrastructure, oil and gas, petrochemicals, natural resources, agro-commodities, trading and various support businesses.

PT Humpuss Aromatic was established as the foundation for the Humpuss Group's growth into areas of petroleum and petrochemical processing, production, distribution and related logistic and support facilities.

In addition to Humpuss Aromatic, the group has PT Kaltim Methanol Industry and PT Humpuss Karbometil Selulosa in its petrochemical division.

Bechtel is a leading global engineering, construction and management organization, and has been involved in construction activities in Indonesia for 43 years, building pipelines, ports, petrochemical and natural gas plants and copper mines.(hen)