15
2013
CPC
Downstream Operations
a 30,000-barrel-per-day cracked gasoline hydrodesulfurization plant at the Taoyuan Refinery since
2008, a 20,000-barrel-per-day cracked gasoline hydrodesulfurization plant at the Dalin Refinery since
2009 and a 40,000-barrel-per-day diesel hydrodesulfurization plant at the Dalin Refinery since 2010. It
also relocated the 18,000-barrel-per-day cracked gasoline upgraded-quality plant from the Kaohsiung
Refinery to the Dalin Refinery in 2011, with the facility scheduled to come on stream in early 2103 after
completion of performance testing.
In 2006 CPC began implementing a plan to construct an 80,000-barrel-per-day residual fluid catalytic
cracking (RFCC) plant at the Dalin Refinery and a 70,000-barrel-per-day residue desulfurization
(RDS) plant and related hydrogen/sulfur recovery unit at the Taoyuan Refinery. The RFCC plant was
commissioned smoothly in November 2012 and was scheduled to come on stream in early 2013 after
completion of performance testing. However, because of fierce opposition from neighboring residents,
the Executive Yuan approved a further two-year suspension of the RDS plant from November 2012. To
make use of the supply of crude butane produced by the RFCC plant and further improve the quality
of gasoline, in 2008 the company began building a 14,000-barrel-per-day alkylation plant at the Dalin
Refinery with commissioning expected in mid-2013. To upgrade the mixed C4 hydrocarbon output of
the RFCC plant to high-value petrochemical products, CPC has planned the construction of an 180,000-
ton-per-year isononanol (INA) plant and a 144,000-ton-per-year methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) plant
via a joint venture, with implementation expected to begin in 2013 and the plants expected to come on-
stream in 2016.
To deal with an excess of production capacity for gasoline and diesel fuel following liberalization of the
domestic market, CPC has acted to readjust and improve its refining structure to conform to market
needs and trends and to increase its ratio of heavy-oil conversion in order to optimize its oil production.
The company is also constantly working to lower its refining costs. CPC’s total exports of major
petroleum products in 2012 were approximately 4.42million kiloliters, with shipments going to Vietnam,
Singapore, New Zealand, Australia and mainland China. CPC will continue developing its export
markets in order to achieve maximum advantage.
