BAKU, Azerbaijan, Dec. 28
By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend:
Kazakhstan imported 34,900 tons of methanol from Russia during 11 months of 2019, which is 3,800 tons more than during the same period of last year, Trend reports with reference to Argus agency.
According to the agency, the increase is due to the demand growth of Kazakhstan’s Atyrau refinery, which uses methanol for manufacturing of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), a high octane gasoline component.
The Atyrau refinery purchased 9,100 tons of methanol during 11 months, which indicates import volume increase by 7,100 tons compared to the same period of last year. The plant starting purchasing methanol in July 2018 following launch of MTBE manufacturing unit.
In turn, Kazakh oil and gas companies, which use methanol for prevention of hydrate formation in the wells, decreased purchase to 17,200 tons, which 1,800 tons less compared to the same period of last year.
Furthermore, Rauan Nalko company, which manufactures reagents for oil and gas extraction, decreased import of Russian methanol by 1,200 tons, having purchased 2,200 tons during 11 months of 2019.
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