PTT and BIG building air separation unit

Plant could serve new fruit corridor

PTT Plc, the national oil and gas conglomerate, has agreed to spend 1.5 billion baht along with Bangkok Industrial Gas (BIG), Thailand’s largest industrial gas maker, to develop an air separation unit for industrial gas in Rayong province. The unit will use chilled water waste from the gasification process of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from PTT’s operations in Map Ta Phut, Rayong. Both companies signed an agreement to produce various industrial gases, serving industrial operators and medical services, with a capacity of 450,000 tonnes per year. The air separation unit is scheduled to start operations in 2021. Chansin Treenuchagron, PTT’s president and chief executive, said demand for industrial gas is growing quickly in many industrial locations in the flagship Eastern Economic Corridor scheme in Chachoengsao, Chon Buri and Rayong provinces. In addition, the government is promoting the Eastern Fruit Corridor (EFC) in areas where there is demand for industrial gas. The EFC hopes to be the country’s first fruit auction market, located in the Smart Park industrial estate in Rayong. The government will allocate a budget of 1.58 billion baht for the project. “The eastern provinces are the country’s fruit plantation hub,” said Mr Chansin. “Chilling technology with industrial gas will add value by preserving and freezing fresh fruits, while the gas can be used in the medical sector, which is a new targeted industry of the future.” He said industrial gas can trim operation costs and enhance efficiency of energy consumption. The air separation unit is expected to reduce CO2 emission by 28,000 tonnes per year and reduce chilled water waste from PTT operations in the gulf by 2,500 tonnes per hour. Piyabut Charuphen, BIG’s managing director, said BIG holds a 49% stake in this project, with the remainder owned by PTT. With its l engthy experience i n the industrial sector, BIG’s new production facility is expected to benefit its US parent firm, Air Products and Chemicals. Before this project, PTT had planned to use the chilled water waste from the LNG gasification process in Map Ta Phut, but the plan was not feasible. BIG also offered PTT liquefied nitrogen as a viable alternative to LNG, following the findings of a co-study. In addition, BIG teamed up with several sport clubs to conduct a feasibility study for bone and joint pain relief therapy using LNG. “Nitrogen can provide cooling to relieve pain, circulate blood and speed up recovery from injury,” said Mr Piyabut. “The first stage for the pain relief therapy is expected to be a social enterprise concept.”