The Importance of Petrochemical in Malaysia

This industry is an important sector in Malaysia with

investments totalling of RM60.7 billion as at 2011. In our
country (Malaysia) has the worlds 14th largest natural gas
reserves and 23rd largest crude oil reserves as well. Malaysia
has being an important exporter of petrochemicals to the
importer all over the world. Lots of petrochemicals are
produced in Malaysia such as olefins, poly-olefins, aromatics,
ethylene oxides, glycols, acetic acid, styrene monomer, high
impact polystyrene, ethyl benzene, vinyl chloride monomer and
polyvinyl chloride and poly-butylene terephthalate.
The factors have led the plastics products industry to
become one of the most dynamic industries in Malaysias
manufacturing sector. The main production processes involved
in the plastic industry are injection moulding, pipes and profiles
extrusion and foam moulding.
Malaysia is currently a net exporter of plastic products.
RM21.2 billion in 2011 is the total export plastic products
amounted and increased about 12.7 per cent compared to
2010. The main products exported were in primary form,
container in plastics, plates, films, sheets, foils, strips and other
articles of plastic. The main export destinations included EU,
China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan and Thailand.
Besides, after Petronas has been operated in 1984 more
jobs is being offer to the Malaysian citizen, thus this has change
the socioeconomic mostly the Malaysian and can reduce the
number of poor citizen in our country.

Name of the Process

Petrochemicals are chemical products derived from
petroleum. While some chemical compounds made from
petroleum are also obtained from other fossil fuels, such
as coal or natural gas, or renewable sources such as corn
or sugar cane. The most common petrochemical classes
are consisting of two which are olefins (including ethylene
and propylene) and olefins is being produce by oil
refineries and aromatics (including benzene, toluene and
xylene isomers) is being produce by fluid catalytic
cracking of petroleum fractions.
Chemical plants produce olefins by steam cracking of
natural gas liquids like ethane and propane while
aromatics are produced by catalytic reforming of naphtha.
Olefins are basis for polymers and oligomers used in
plastics, resins, fibers, elastomers, lubricants and gels.
Petrochemicals end products from those plants include
plastics, soaps, detergents, solvents, paints, drugs,
fertilizer, pesticides, explosives, synthetic textile fibers
and rubbers, flooring and insulating materials and etc.

Description of the process

Petrochemicals are found in such common consumer
products as aspirin, cars, clothing, compact disc, video
tapes, electronic equipment, furniture, and others.
Petrochemicals are made on a very large scale.
Petrochemicals are predominantly made in a few
manufactured around the world too! As of 2007, there are
2980 operating petrochemical plants in 4320 locations
worldwide.
In Malaysia, theres three zone of the main
Petrochemicals has been build up which are in Kertih,
Terengganu; Gebeng, Pahang; and Pasir Gudang/Tanjung
Langsat, Johor. There are also others plant petrochemicals
in Malaysia as well such as urea plants in Bintulu, Sarawak
and Gurun, Kedah. Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene plants
in Pulau Pinang; methanol plants in Labuan and nitrile
butadiene rubber in Kluang, Johor.
In Malaysia lots of type petrochemical has been
produce such as olefin, aromatics, ethylene oxide, glycol,
oxo alcohol and others. These world scale of plants has
contributed to the development of local plastic processing
activities by provide a steady supply of feedstock material
for the plastic industry. These have led the plastic industry
becoming one of the most dynamic industries in
Malaysias sector. Theres four sub-sectors, packaging subsector, electrical and electronics and automotive
components sub-sector, consumer and industrial products
sub-sector and others.