Karawang, West Java (ANTARA) - Deputy Minister of Investment and Downstream Todotua Pasaribu said the presence of a catalyst factory in Cikampek, Karawang Regency, West Java, can encourage the independence of energy downstreaming.

 

"So far, for catalyst needs, we import. Now with this factory we hope to be independent," said Todotua after the inauguration of the first production of two new catalysts from PT Katalis Sinergi Indonesia, Karawang, Wednesday.

 

He said that with the catalyst factory, it is hoped that Indonesia will achieve independence and no longer depend on imports.

 

The manufacture of catalysts as an energy supporter is in line with President Prabowo's Astacita in the environmentally friendly energy sector. Biofuels will be an option besides electric vehicles.

 

"Catalysts are also materials related to downstreaming in the chemical, refinery and oil and gas industries. The raw materials are in our country, cobalt, nickel, zeolite, molybdenum, to zinc, all materials are in Indonesia and have extraordinary reserves," he said.

 

A catalyst is a substance that can accelerate and direct chemical reactions when converting a raw material into another desired material.

 

As in the manufacture of biofuels, catalysts function to accelerate reactions in the process of converting palm oil or castor oil into biofuels (BBN).

 

Be it gasoline, biodiesel, even aviation fuel or avtur.

 

This biofuel is projected to be widely used in the future. This is because fossil fuels will run out because they cannot be renewed. With catalysts, Indonesia is expected to be able to reduce the use of fossil fuels in everyday life.

 

President Director of Katalis Sinergi Indonesia Hadiyanto said that his company was established on 2 hectares of land in the Kujang Cikampek Industrial Area and has been operating since two years ago.

 

This factory is the result of a consortium, which includes PT Pertamina Lubricants (38 percent), PT Pupuk Indonesia through Pupuk Kujang (37 percent), and PT Rekacipta Inovasi ITB (25 percent).

 

Currently, Katalis Sinergi Indonesia can produce hydrotreating catalysts as an important ingredient in the manufacture of biofuels that convert palm oil into diesel oil (D100). In addition, it can also make oleochemical catalysts for various industries.

 

This factory has a production capacity of 800 tons per year.

 

When it was established two years ago, there were seven types of catalysts produced, but currently Katalis Sinergi Indonesia can produce 13 types of catalyst products. The products are nine types of hydrotreating catalysts and four types of oleochemical catalysts.

 

"With the support of ITB, Pertamina, and Pupuk Kujang, we will continue to strive to provide catalysts that are useful in various industrial sectors, including innovating to add new products," said Hadiyanto.

 

According to him, there are currently two new products being produced, namely the SGB VII catalyst to support the biofuel or organic fuel industry. The catalyst functions to separate sulfur in the production process at PT Kilang Pertamina Internasional in Kasim, Papua.

 

The next new product is the ME-Kat 200 type catalyst. The catalyst functions to process methyl esters or vegetable oils into fatty alcohols or fatty alcohols. This substance is commonly used in various materials related to fuels such as paint, coatings, and even pharmaceuticals.

 

(SOURCE)