What are the development prospects for light gasoline etherification plants?
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Was the new light gasoline etherification plant built because domestic gasoline was upgraded to National V standard in 2017? Since 2012, CNPC has built many new light gasoline etherification units, with a few more coming online by 2017. But why are there no relevant reports available regarding Sinopec? Does Shandong’s local oil refineries have any plans to build new light gasoline etherification units?
There are local raw material resources, so a methanol plant could be considered; otherwise it would be unprofitable, as all costs would go into transportation.
Are there any companies in the country that sell etherified gasoline separately? Who are the main customers?
Due to problems with the sales of etherified products, all of our plant’s etherification units have been shut down. We are now very interested in finding a way to sell light gasoline in its etherified form 、
It is possible to have one’s own sales channels; CNPC and Sinopec have requirements regarding the oxygen content in gasoline, and they do not purchase gasoline produced by etherification units.
It is difficult to sell etherified gasoline separately; it is not convenient to store, and it is hard to ensure consistent quality. Generally, it is supplied on a fixed basis. Before 2015, except for the Huhhot Petrochemical plant, all etherification facilities owned by CNPC were either built by third parties or through joint ventures with private companies. The reason for this was profit-making. However, since CNPC did not approve such projects back then, indirect methods were used to achieve the goal. As long as it did not affect the blending of gasoline, etherification facilities for gasoline could generate significant profits; the investment in such facilities was around 200 million yuan, with a payback period of one year
C5 olefins in light gasoline cause photochemical pollution and are also an important component of VOCs; etherification can reduce atmospheric pollution, but the etherification catalyst is a strong-acid resin, which itself is a type of solid waste that is difficult to handle. The octane rating of etherified gasoline does not increase significantly; the octane rating obtained from C5 olefins is higher than that of TAME, and it is methanol that generates profits.