News and media releases

Thailand refinery complex rises to energy challenge

24/04/2007

It is projected that Thailand’s economy will grow at 4.7% a year and its primary energy demand at 4.6% a year to 2030.* Consequently, refiners in the region are looking at ways to meet escalating demand for their products.

A new long-term technical services agreement (TSA) between Thailand’s Rayong Refinery Public Company Limited (RRC) and Shell Global Solutions (Thailand) Limited will support the development of operations and assist in increasing capacity at the Rayong refinery complex.

Under the TSA, we will provide help and support for a range of operational activities, including crude and refined oil product-quality issues; plant and equipment performance; energy efficiency; maintenance and inspection; asset reliability and integrity management; materials and corrosion; refinery performance monitoring and benchmarking; and business-improvement reviews.

We are currently working together on the design of the condensate residue splitter project, part of a planned expansion from 145,000 to around 210,000 barrels a day that will also increase the refinery’s production of jet fuel and diesel.

Chainoi Puankosoom, president of RRC, says, “These are challenging times for refiners, but we are confident that we can make a contribution to meeting the country’s energy demand. The agreement with Shell Global Solutions will give us access to the organisation’s expertise and experience, and help us meet the challenge.”

*Source: Asia Pacific Energy Research Centre.