Prarancangan Pabrik Etilen Glikol Berbahan Dasar Nafta Dengan Kapasitas 160.000 Ton/Tahun
Ranggawijang Nurabisatya, Prof. Ir. Suryo Purwono, M.A.Sc., Ph.D., IPU, ASEAN Eng., ACPE
2025 | Skripsi | TEKNIK KIMIA
Pabrik Etilen Glikol dari Nafta merupakan
pabrik yang terdiri dari 3 proses utama, yaitu proses pembentukan etilen dari
nafta, proses pembentukan etilen oksida dari etilen, dan proses pembentukan
etilen glikol dari etilen oksida. Pada pembentukan etilen dari nafta, proses
utama yang digunakan adalah thermal
cracking, yaitu pemecahan rantai hidrokarbon panjang menjadi rantai
hidrokarbon pendek dengan menggunakan panas furnace.
Kemudian, pada pembentukan etilen oksida dari etilen,
proses yang digunakan adalah oksidasi etilen dengan menggunakan udara. Lalu,
untuk pembentukan etilen glikol dari etilen oksida menggunakan proses
hidrolisis katalitik asam. Pada prarancangan pabrik, kapasitas produk didesain
pada angka 160.000 ton/tahun. Kapasitas tersebut ditentukan dengan pertimbangan
ketersediaan raw material, konsumsi etilen glikol, serta ekspor impor
dari etilen glikol yang ada di Indonesia. Untuk mencukupi kapasitas 160.000
ton/tahun tersebut, jumlah bahan baku yang dibutuhkan adalah sebesar 594.000
ton/tahun. Selain itu, terdapat beberapa utilitas yang dibutuhkan untuk
mendukung berjalannya proses pembentukan etilen glikol dari nafta. Beberapa
utilitas yang dibutuhkan untuk keberlangsungan proses, yaitu air, listrik,
refrigeran, steam dan udara. Jumlah air utilitas yang dibutuhkan untuk
menjalankan pabrik adalah sebanyak 5.349.106,26 kg/jam, jumlah kebutuhan saturated
steam yang dibutuhkan adalah sebanyak 323975,6128 kg/jam dan kebutuhan supersaturated
steam adalah sebanyak 58527,8367 kg/jam. Kemudian, total udara yang
dibutuhkan untuk keseluruhan proses adalah sebanyak 450789967 m3/jam
dan total kebutuhan listrik untuk seluruh pabrik adalah sebesar 9955,87 kW. Lalu,
untuk proses pendinginan dengan suhu yang sangat rendah (dibawah 0<!--[if gte msEquation 12]><!--[endif]-->
Ethylene glycol is a vital industrial chemical used extensively in the production of polyester fibers, PET resins, antifreeze formulations, and other downstream products. As global demand for polyester-based materials increases to meet the demands in the textile, automotive, and packaging industries, the need for ethylene glycol continues to grow. In Indonesia, this trend is reflected in the expansion of polyester manufacturing facilities such as PT Polychem Indonesia, Indorama Ventures, and PT Polyfin Canggih. However, despite growing domestic consumption, Indonesia remains a net importer of ethylene glycol due to insufficient local production capacity. Market analysis reveals that, as of 2023, Indonesia imported over 423,000 tons of ethylene glycol, indicating a substantial supply gap. This heavy reliance on imports exposes the country to global price volatility, supply chain disruptions, and higher logistical costs. Establishing a domestic ethylene glycol plant would therefore represent a strategic investment that will strengthen national industrial independence, reducing trade deficits, and enhancing competitiveness within the petrochemical sector.
To address this need, a preliminary design has been developed for an ethylene glycol production facility with a capacity of 160,000 tons per year. The plant integrates three core processes: the thermal cracking of naphtha to produce ethylene, the partial oxidation of ethylene to ethylene oxide, and the acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of ethylene oxide to produce ethylene glycol. This process uses liquid naphta as the feedstock and has an estimated amount of needs at 594,000 tons per year. Operations of this plant requires utility demands such as 5.349.106,26 kg/h of water, 323.975,61 kg/h of saturated steam, 58.527.84 kg/h of superheated steam, 450.789.967 m³/h of air, and 9.955.87 kW of electricity to be able to operate in an inherently safer operations. Refrigeration systems are incorporated to accommodate sub-zero processing stages using 10,382.73 kg/h of ammonia and 62,708.10 kg/h of trifluoromethane. The plant will be staffed by 69 process operators and supporting personnel, and sited in Adipala, Cilacap, requiring approximately 9.57 hectares of land that is strategically located near key industrial consumers and transportation infrastructure.
From an economic standpoint, the proposed facility demonstrates high feasibility. The total fixed capital investment is estimated at $105.23 million and Rp1.71 trillion, with working capital requirements of $127.126 million and Rp509,207 trillion. Economic performance indicators show a Lang Factor of 4.68, Pay Out Time (POT) of 1.2 years before tax and 1.4 years after tax, Return on Investment (ROI) of 55.45?fore tax and 41.59?ter tax, and a Discounted Cash Flow Rate of Return (DCFRR) of 25.89%. Break-even and shut-down points are calculated at 40.18% and 25.89%, respectively. These figures confirm the project’s strong economic viability and strategic relevance. In conclusion, the construction of this ethylene glycol plant not only meets urgent domestic demand but also supports Indonesia’s long-term goal of advancing self-sufficiency and value creation in the petrochemical industry.
Kata Kunci : Ethylene Glycol, Cracking, Hydrolysis, Oxidation, Economy
