Pengerang, an integrated complex in Malaysia could see the development and operation of a refinery by Eni, Euglena and Petronas.
A large-scale project
Pengerang is one of the largest integrated refining and petrochemical developments in Southeast Asia. Eni, Euglena and Petronas are currently conducting technical and economic feasibility assessments for the proposed project. The investment decision is expected by 2023 and the plant completed by 2025.
The site will be located next to Petronas’ existing integrated refinery and petrochemical facilities. The biorefinery will leverage the company’s integrated value chain. In addition, it will benefit from the existing utilities and facilities in the integrated Pengerang complex.
The strategic location of the complex offers easy access to major international shipping lanes. The project in Pengerang will also increase the capacity of the refinery. Thus, the goal is to meet the growing demand for solutions worldwide.
The biorefinery should have a flexible configuration to maximize the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for aircraft. In addition, it should also produce hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) for road vehicles, diesel trains and shipping. This flexibility will allow production to meet the ever-changing and growing energy demands of customers.
A biofuel of the future
The Pengerang biorefinery is also expected to have the capacity to process about 650,000 tons per year of feedstock. Thus, the site would be able to produce up to 12,500 barrels per day of biofuels. In addition, the raw materials to be used will not compete with those in the food chain.
The Pengerang biorefinery will use the Honeywell UOP Ecofining process, developed by Eni in cooperation with Honeywell UOP. Giuseppe Ricci, Chief Operating Officer of Energy Evolution at Eni, says:
“For the biorefinery project to be developed with Euglena and Petronas in Malaysia, Eni is pleased to share its experience and disruptive technologies that enabled it to complete the world’s first conversion of a refinery into a biorefinery in Porto Marghera (Venice) in 2014, and to inaugurate a second one in Gela, Sicily, in 2019.”
Eni plans to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 by reducing the emissions generated throughout the product life cycle.
According to Eni, biofuels represent an energy vector that can immediately contribute to the decarbonization of transport. HVO, of which Eni is the only Italian producer and the second largest in Europe, is added to diesel fuel. It can also be used in pure form in all approved engines.
100% pure HVO reduces CO2 emissions by 60% to 90% depending on the feedstock, compared to the standard fossil mix. In 2018, Euglena, is developing Japan’s first demonstration plant producing renewable jet fuels and diesel fuels. Finally, Petronas signed a partnership to supply SAF to Malaysia Airline.
