Chandra Asri to produce bio-SSBR from hydrotreated vegetable oil

JAKARTA, Indonesia—Indonesia-based chemicals supplier PT Chandra Asri Petrochemical Tbk (Chandra Asri) is planning to build a hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) unit in collaboration with South Korean trading company LX International.

In an Aug. 25 statement, the Indonesian group said the facility would produce renewable feedstock in the form of bio-naphtha to develop chemicals and polymers including bio-solution styrene butadiene rubber and bio-polypropylene.

The supplier has now signed a memorandum of understanding with LX International to build the HVO facility with a capacity of 300,000-500,000 metric tons per year (300-500 ktpa).

The unit will be constructed close to Chandra Asri's petrochemical complex in Cilegon, Banten, to achieve operational synergy.

According to Chandra Asri, the project will aim to produce a source of bio-naphtha raw material that can be mixed in the olefin cracker plant into monomers, to be further processed into vegetable-based polymers.

In addition, this facility will be able to produce alternative energy to replace fossil raw materials, Chandra Asri said.

The two sides have also agreed to carry out a market study on the products and the supply of raw material.

Chandra Asri said the resulting products from the project, including green polymers and SSBR will be used to manufacture environmentally friendly tires.

The result of the study also will be applied to Chandra Asri's second petrochemical complex CAP2, which is set to become operational in 2024 and to produce 175 ktpa of butadiene as well as other polymers.