Bashneft abandoning hyrdrocracker project, to upgrade existing units
MOSCOW. Oct 12 (Interfax) - Bashneft has decided to abandon plans to build a hydrocracking unit in favor of upgrading existing units, the oil company said in a presentation of its development strategy to 2020.
"It has been decided to cease the construction of hydrocrackers in order to upgrade the existing units and optimize production processes," the company said.
The strategy involves "further improving the performance of the company's refining complex and reaching the global level of refinery complexity by updating the upgrade program, including construction of a new delayed coker and abandoning a project to construct a hydrocracker, and achieving an increase in operational availability of process units and improving energy efficiency," it said.
"To cease production of fuel oil and VGO remains a strategic goal. Projects aimed at achieving this are being implemented," it said.
In order to enhance product quality in the period 2017-2020, Bashneft intends to renovate a diesel fuel hydro-treater at its Ufa refinery and, at the end of 2019, start building a hydrodearomatization unit at Ufaneftekhim.
Three process lines of elemental sulfur units are being built at the Ufa and Novoil refineries in the period from 2012 almost until the end of 2019.
As part of the project to end production of VGO and fuel oil, Bashneft will replace a project to build a hydrocracker at Novoil with "more efficient projects to upgrade existing units" by the end of 2020.
By the middle of 2020, Bashneft will have built a delayed coking unit, throughput 2 million tonnes per year, at the Ufa refinery. Basic designs using Foster Wheeler technology have been completed, and selection of an engineering company is under way.