Part of Iraq’s Ministry of Oil, the state-owned South Refineries Co. (SRC) executed the upgrading of its refinery located in Basrah, Iraq, by implementing a new refining plant adjacent to the existing refinery facility. The Basrah Upgrading Project is now reaching the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) phase carried out by JGC Corp. (JGC).
Axens has announced that it continues to be involved in this project, which will increase the gasoline and diesel production along with other oil products, reducing the national refined products imports. The Basrah Upgrading Project will also improve oil refinery efficiency of the complete facility.
Different Axens’ technologies were selected and will be used, including a diesel hydrotreatment unit (Prime-DTM), a VGO hydrotreating unit, a VGO FCC unit, and an oligomerisation unit (PolynaphthaTM).
An integrated scheme around the FCC unit is implemented thanks to Axens’ position for a complete FCC suite of technologies from pre-treatment to post-treatment. The PolynaphthaTM technology downstream of the FCC unit for oligomerisation of light olefins aims at maximising gasoline production.
In addition, Axens will provide catalysts and adsorbents, as well as key technology features such as proprietary equipment, trainings and technical services.
“The Basrah refinery is expanding its operations by increasing its gasoline and diesel production while improving the fuels quality. This will help to solve one of the main challenges to lower national petroleum products imports revitalising the Iraqi refining sector damaged by war and deterioration. South Refineries Co. selected Axens for its wide and proven experience in refining as a partner to supply technologies but also to support throughout the whole project,” said Jacques Rault, Conversion & Clean Fuels Business Line Director, Process Licensing at Axens.
“The Iraqi Ministry of Oil and the Southern Refineries Co. with the support of the Japanese government represented by the JICA Organization are doing great work to complete the Basrah Refinery Development/FCC Project by adopting the latest technologies and designs provided by Axens. With the construction contract signed with the Japanese company JGC on 1 October 2020 and then activated on 15 February 2021, the project activities started according to the agreed schedule. Among other developments, we are pleased to complete this vital and important project that supports the production of oil derivatives meeting international standards and environmental requirements adopted in this field and relieves the burden of oil products imports,” said Ibraheem Al-Salihi, FCC Project Manager, South Refineries Co.