Chandra Asri to raise output

Chandra Asri to raise output

TOKYO (Reuter): Indonesian petrochemical firm PT Chandra Asri plans to invest US$500-$600 million to boost petrochemical product output at a plant in West Java, joint venture partner Marubeni Corp said yesterday.

The petrochemical complex in Cilegon will increase output of ethylene by 160,000 tons to an annual 670,000 tons, propylene by 60,000 tons to 300,000 tons and polyethylene by 200,000 tons to 500,000 tons, a Marubeni spokesman said.

New facilities to produce 180,000 tons of polypropylene will also be built, he said.

Chandra Asri is partly owned by President Soeharto's second son Bambang Trihatmodjo and timber tycoon Prajogo Pangestu.

Marubeni and Showa Denko KK share a combined 25 percent interest in the firm.