SINGAPORE: Malaysia’s Pengerang Refining Company (PRefChem) has cut output at its refinery after it shut one of two gasoline-making units until April for repairs, sources familiar with the matter said.
That has led to lower exports of refined products this month, they added.
The refiner unexpectedly shut one of its two 70,000-bpd residue fluid catalytic cracking (RFCC) units for repairs in early February, two of four sources said.
PRefChem’s 300,000 barrel-per-day (bpd) refinery located at Pengerang, Johor, is currently running at around 50% of its capacity, three of the sources added, down from around 60% last month.
With reduced output, the refiner cut shipments in February for at least three cargoes – one gasoline and two diesel, said the sources, who were not authorised to speak to media and declined to be identified.
PRefChem, a 50:50 joint venture between state-owned energy firms Petronas and Saudi Aramco, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
For March shipments, Petronas Trading Corp (Petco) started offering this week at least one spot diesel cargo loading in March, one of the sources said.
Petco has not offered any low-sulphur straight-run fuel oil for February or March so far, traders have separately said. – Reuters
