On 18 May 2009, CEO Hj Mohd Ja’afar Hj Awang Bakar and PetroleumBRUNEI’s nominated directors in Brunei Methanol Company (BMC) comprising of BGM Hj Md Jamil Hj Md Salleh, CGM Hj Kula Hj Metasan, and Deputy Director of Petroleum Unit Pg Hj Harun Pg Hj Abd Rahman, joined BMC’s management in a ceremony to bless the installation of the methanol super converters. The arrival of super converters weighing almost 500 tonnes each marked one of BMC’s major preparations for their upcoming commercial operations next year.

The Guest of Honour at the blessing ceremony was Pengiran Kerma Raja Pengiran Haji Kamarulzaman bin Pengiran Pekerma Setia Diraja Pengiran Haji Ali, the Chairman of Sungai Liang Authority.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) gave an update on the progress of the methanol plant construction and the upcoming events that will lead up to the mechanical completion of the plant at the end of this year.

The delegation then proceeded to the location where the blessing ceremony took place. The lifting was conducted slowly by means of two cranes, and the super converter was fitted into its frame. The ceremony ended with a tour of the construction site and the temporary jetty where the super converters was off loaded earlier in May 09.

The methanol super converter is a reactor which converts the synthesis gas from the reformer unit into methanol. Catalysts will be packed in the annular space between an outer tube and an inner tube to increase the rate of reaction. Developed by Mitsubishi Gas Chemical (MGC) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), the super converter will have a high recovery for the heat of reaction and maximize the catalyst process. Therefore, high methanol conversion will be achieved whilst saving on the energy consumption.