Nippon Oil to convert MTBE plant to ETBE

Japan’s largest refiner Nippon Oil plans to start construction within six months to convert its 100,000 metric ton per year MTBE (methyl tertiary butyl ether) production unit to produce ETBE (ethyl tertiary butyl ether) by the autumn of 2009. The Petroleum Association of Japan, which has local refiners as members, plans to boost its use of ETBE as a gasoline additive to 200,000 kiloliters by fiscal 2009-2010. (April 6, 2007)