Manufaktur

PT. Kaltim Methanol Industri berlokasi di kota Bontang, Kalimantan Timur, menggunakan gas alam dari Badak Gas Field Cenetr sebagai bahan baku yang dipasok oleh perusahaan production sharing Pertamina, yaitu Total Fina Elf Indonesie, Vico Indonesia dan Chevron. Gas alam pertama kali di alirkan pada tanggal 23 Januari 1997 dan dilanjutkan dengan plant commissioning, kemudian start up pada tanggal 31 Maret 1997. Setelah dihasilkan first drop Raw Methanol pada tanggal 29 Februari 1998 dan Pure Methanol grade AA pada tanggal 08 Maret 1998, maka pabrik mulai di operasikan secara komersial dan tercapai kapasitas terpasang 660.000 MTPY pada tanggal 29 Juli 2000.

Teknologi yang digunakan adalah synthesa process technology dengan menggunakan tekanan rendah lisensi Lurgi – Jerman. 
Secara garis besar proses methanol sebagai berikut :

Process Technology
PT KMI use low-pressure-synthesis methanol with combined reforming processing technology licensed by Lurgi to produce methanol, which eventually contributes to our goal of producing methanol at competitive cost. 

Reforming Unit

1. Desulphurizer

The function is to remove sulfur compounds in natural gas, because sulfur compounds will poison all catalyst in reforming unit also in synthesis methanol. Desulphurizer unit utilizes CoMo and ZnO catalysts with reaction :

       RSH + H₂ <---> RH + H₂S          ZnO + H₂S <---> ZnS + H₂O      H₂S + CuO <---> CuS + H₂O

2. Prereformer

This reactor will convert all heavy carbon (C₂⁺) in natural gas, so steam reformer can be operated in lower steam to carbon ratio (~1.9 mole/mole). Nickel-based catalyst is utilized for process below :

                CnHm + nH₂O  <---> nCO + (n+m/2) H₂                         CO + H₂O  <---> CO₂ + H₂

                CO + 3H₂  <---> CH₄ + H₂O

3. Steam Reformer

The function is to convert methane to CO, CO2 and H2. Nickel-based catalyst is also utilized for process below :

                CH₄ + H₂O <---> CO + 3H₂                                    CO + H₂O <---> CO₂ + H₂

4.  Autothermal Reformer

Rest of methane outlet Steam Reformer and a part of natural gas will be converted to CO, CO2 and H2 with partial oxidation and steam reforming process which is catalyzed by Nickel-based catalyst also

                CH₄ + H₂O <---> CO + 3H₂                 CH₄ + O₂     ----> CO + H₂ + H₂O

                CO + H₂O <---> CO2 + H₂                  CnHm + (n+m/2)O₂  ----> nCO₂ + (m/2)H₂O

Methanol Synthesis Unit

This unit converts syngas from Reforming Unit to raw methanol. Conversion processes occur along multi tube reactor catalyzed by Cu and Zn, with reaction below :

                CO   + 2H₂ <--->  CH₃OH

                CO2 + 3H₂ <--->  CH₃OH + H₂O

(+ Methyl formiate, ethanol and higher alcohols)

Methanol Distillation Unit

This unit consists of three part:

• Degassing
• Low boiling removal
• High boiling removal

Port and Facilities

To support the methanol loading activities, we have built our own jetty with modern and sophisticated facilities and already accredited No:02-0014-DV base on ISPS Code from Indonesian Government for methanol loading to ship

Jetty Capacity                    : 30,000 DWT

Length of Port                   : 206 meters

Sea Draf                               : 10 meters

Loading Arm Capacity     : 2 arms @ 1,000 MT / hour

Storage Tank

Raw methanol tank

Capacity   : 1 @ 1000 Ton = 1000 Ton

Intermediate methanol tank

Capacity   : 2 @ 1000 Ton = 2000 Ton

Export tank/pure methanol tank

Capacity   : 2 @ 30,000 Ton= 60,000 Ton