マレーシアにおける石油化学プロジェクト共同事業化調査実施の覚書を

マレーシアの国営石油会社ペトロナスは5月18日、伊藤忠商事およびタイのPTTグローバル・ケミカルと、ペトロナスがマレーシア南部ジョホール州で計画している石油精製・石油化学プロジェクト（RAPID）の一環として、一部石油化学事業の事業化調査に関する覚書を締結したと発表した。

ペトロナスの声明によると、RAPIDプロジェクトの規模は600億リンギ。

マレーシアにおける石油化学プロジェクト共同事業化調査実施の覚書を締結

　伊藤忠商事株式会社（本社：東京都港区、代表取締役社長：岡藤正広、以下「伊藤忠商事」）はマレーシア国営石油会社であるペトロナス社と、ペトロナスがマレーシア南部ジョホール州で計画している石油精製及び石油化学プロジェクト（Project RAPID）の一部石油化学事業において共同で事業化調査を行う覚書を締結しました。

　また、ペトロナスとの２社間の覚書とに加え、タイ国営石油会社PTT Public社傘下のPTT グローバルケミカル社を含めた３社間の覚書も締結し、一部事業案件においてはペトロナス、PTTと３社で事業化調査を実施することといたしました。　

　Project RAPIDは総事業費約200億ドルを見込む石油精製から石油化学までの一貫生産プロジェクトで、2016年末までの商業運転を目指しています。伊藤忠は上記2件の覚書に従い、今後事業化に向け検討していくことになります。

　伊藤忠商事は化学品事業において、基礎収益力の強化及び新規事業開拓を重点施策としており、グローバルなトレード収益力の向上とともに競争力のある原料を活かした成長市場における大型事業に積極的に取り組んでいく方針です。

会社名	PETRONAS(ペトロナス)
URL	www.petronas.com
本社	マレーシア　クアラルンプール
代表者	シャムスール　アズハル　アバス社長
設立	1974年
売上	2,410億　マレーシアリンギット(2011年)

会社名	PTT Global Chemical (PTTグローバルケミカル)
URL	www.pttgcgroup.com
本社	タイ　バンコック
代表者	アノン　シリサエンタクシン社長
設立	2011年
売上	5,045.9億　タイバーツ (2011年)

SULTAN OF JOHOR LAUNCHES PETRONAS' REFINERY AND PETROCHEMICAL INTEGRATED PROJECT

His Royal Highness the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar, today launched Malaysia’s largest refinery and petrochemical venture, the PETRONAS Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development (RAPID) project, which has the potential of turning Southern Johor into a new petroleum and petrochemical hub in the country.

The launch marked an important milestone for the development of the RM60-billion project which will pave the way for PETRONAS to further grow and add value to Malaysia’s oil, gas and petrochemical industry and spur domestic and foreign direct investments in the country.

Held near RAPID’s proposed project site in Pengerang, Johor, the launch was also graced by the presence of Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak, Johor Menteri Besar Dato’ Abdul Ghani Othman and PETRONAS’ President and Chief Executive Officer Dato’ Shamsul Azhar Abbas.

With a capacity to refine 300,000 barrels per day of imported crude oil, RAPID’s proposed refinery will act as the backbone of the project that will supply feedstock for the petrochemical complex. It will also produce a host of refined petroleum products, including gasoline and diesel that meet the Euro 4 and Euro 5 fuel specifications.

The petrochemical component of the project will allow PETRONAS to expand its products portfolio from commodity petrochemicals to premium differentiated and specialty chemicals, capitalising on the growing demand for these higher value products in the Asia Pacific region.

To support the development of RAPID, PETRONAS is also assessing the feasibility of developing a new liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving and re-gasification terminal and a co-generation power plant.

Like other PETRONAS’ projects, RAPID will be developed and implemented according to stringent international regulatory standards, as well as Malaysia’s Department of Environment (DOE) and Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) standards. It will also employ best-in-class technologies that have been adopted in advanced countries with stringent environmental regulations.

RAPID’s implementation is aligned with the Government’s strategies to establish new engines of growth for Malaysia and contributes towards raising incomes and improving the people’s quality of life.

The project, which is greater in scale and scope than that of PETRONAS’ Melaka, Kertih and Gebeng complexes combined, has the potential to create multiple economic spin-offs for the oil and gas industry, develop downstream manufacturing industries, spur township development and infrastructures as well as provide new employment opportunities in the country, especially in Pengerang.

Coupled with the existing oil, gas and petrochemical facilities in the country, RAPID also supports the Government’s aspiration to turn Malaysia into a leading petroleum industry hub in the region.

During its construction, the project is expected to require more than 40,000 contract-based workers. Upon completion, the project will offer about 4,000 new permanent employments for qualified Malaysians in the premium high-end technology value chain, creating a new generation of oil and petrochemical professionals.

PETRONAS has already started making preparations to ensure the availability of qualified and trained personnel to work at the various plants and facilities within the RAPID complex.

In addition, other long-term employment opportunities are expected to be created by service providers, suppliers, maintenance companies and related industries in the southern region to support the operation of the complex.

RAPID’s project implementation is expected to commence by mid 2013, after PETRONAS reaches its final investment decision (FID).

PETRONAS TO DEVELOP NEW REFINERY AND PETROCHEMICALS COMPLEX

PETRONAS, in a move to expand its petrochemicals business and further spur the growth of Malaysia’s oil and gas downstream sector, plans to embark on a new integrated refinery and petrochemicals complex in Southern Johor.

The new development, to be known as RAPID (Refinery and Petrochemicals Integrated Development), was announced today by Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak at the PETRONAS Twin Towers.

Still at the detailed feasibility study stage, RAPID is estimated to cost about US$20 billion and will comprise a crude oil refinery with a 300,000 barrels per day capacity, a naphtha cracker that will produce about three million tonnes of ethylene, propylene, C4 and C5 olefins per year, and a petrochemicals and polymer complex that will produce differentiated and highly-specialised chemicals.

Greater in scale and scope than that of PETRONAS’ Melaka, Kertih and Gebeng complexes combined, the proposed development is expected to turn Southern Johor into another major petroleum and petrochemical centre in the region. The area has been identified because of its strategic location, being near deepwater port facilities, international shipping lanes and regional demand centres. The project is expected to be commissioned by the end of 2016.

PETRONAS’ President and CEO Dato’ Shamsul Azhar Abbas said: “Looking ahead, RAPID is expected to attract significant investments from international companies within and further down the business value chain, underscoring our long-standing practice of forming mutually beneficial partnerships.”

“We are proud to be involved in this new phase of nation-building to put Malaysia into a new frontier of technology and economic development,” he added.
The international companies’ participation and their corresponding technological expertise and presence in dynamic global markets are expected to help create an excellent training ground for locals. This would not only benefit the new generation of oil and petrochemical professionals, but also the new breed of product scientists, engineers and businessmen who would further drive the growth of the sector, in line with the Government’s aspiration to turn Malaysia into a leading petroleum industry centre in the region.

To support the development of RAPID, PETRONAS is also looking at the possibility of building a new liquefied natural gas receiving and re-gasification terminal in the area. The facility will not only support the energy needs of the complex but will also contribute to the efforts to diversify the sources of gas supply to meet existing and future gas demand in Peninsular Malaysia.