KUALA LUMPUR (July 28): Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) recently installed the biggest crude distillation column for its Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development (RAPID) project in Pengerang, Johor.

Designed by Sinopec Engineering (Group) Co Ltd and fabricated by KNM Process Systems Sdn Bhd in Gebeng, Pahang, the distillation column is able to process 300,000 barrels per stream day of medium-to-heavy sour crude oil, Petronas said in a statement today.

At 10 metres wide and 66 metres in height, the distillation column weighs 1,300 tonnes and is billed as among the biggest single crude distillation columns in the refining industry, thus earning itself an entry in the Malaysia Book of Records for the biggest crude distillation column.

As at June, the Pengerang complex was almost 70% completed, and with the successful installation of the distillation column, the project is on track to achieve its first refinery start-up in the first quarter of 2019, said Petronas' Refinery and Petrochemical Corporation (PRPC) senior vice president and chief executive officer Dr Colin Wong Hee Huing.

Developed on a single site measuring 6,242 acres with an investment of US$27 billion, the Pengerang complex is supported by associated facilities, which comprise the Pengerang Co-generation Plant, an LNG re-gasification terminal, a raw water supply project (PAMER), the Pengerang Deepwater Terminal, as well as centralised and shared utilities and facilities.