KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 24): Kemaman Bitumen Company (KBC) is expected to raise production to around 80,000-100,000 t/month in November-December on expectations of higher demand.

Citing a source with direct knowledge of the matter, global energy and commodity market business intelligence provider Argus Media on Tuesday (Nov 23) said the potential decision to raise production is in line with expectations that demand from Vietnam and Thailand will firm in December.

However, it added that the information had not been confirmed by KBC.

On its website, KBC, which is wholly owned by the Tipco Asphalt group of companies, describes itself as the only naphthenic asphalt-producing refinery in Southeast Asia.

Located in Kemaman, the refinery is licensed to process 100,000 bbl of crude oil per day and produces high-quality naphthenic asphalt, atmospheric gas oil, vacuum gas oil and naphtha.

KBC formed a joint-venture company, Borneo Asphalt Sdn Bhd, in June 2017 in Sarawak to focus on the road construction industry in southern Sarawak.