Rayong Purifier Plans Second Refinery

[sbk]

Rayong Purifier plans second refinery

By The Nation

Published on March 25, 2009

Rayong Purifier (RPC) plans to set up a new refinery within the next three to five years, executive-board chairman Supapong Krishnakan said yesterday.

He said it would have a production capacity of 30,000-50,000 barrels per day and be able to produce both petrochemical products and petroleum.

The company is studying an investment plan for the new refinery, including a possible location. Construction is expected to take one to two years, after which it will serve demand in Thailand and neighbouring countries.

Its existing refinery will produce 12,000bpd this year out of a total capacity of 17,000bpd.

Several countries have approached RPC about setting up a small refinery on their land, especially in Africa.

This year, RPC has earmarked Bt425 million for investment, of which Bt350 million will be spent by 51-per-cent-owned subsidiary Pure Sammakorn Development subsidiary to develop a shopping complex on Ramkhamhaeng Road, expected to be completed by late next year.

Wholly owned subsidiary Jaturatis Transport will spend Bt60 million for an additional 10 oil-transport vehicles, thus boosting the volume of its transported oil.

And RPC's petrol-station business will spend Bt15 million to open five more stations in the greater Bangkok area to add to the existing 75 nationwide.

Supapong said RPC's present refinery was in Map Ta Phut but would not be

The Nation

affected by that area's designation as a pollution-control zone, given the company's present compliance with environmental regulations.