BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 24. The modernization of Uzbekistan's Fergana Oil Refinery has been completed by 33 percent, Trend reports.
As Sanoat Energetika Guruhi (Saneg) reported, the modernization project of the refinery mainly focuses on reducing irrecoverable hydrocarbon losses and upgrading the plant's storage tank system. Currently, 12 out of 36 new modern tanks of various capacities are being installed. To facilitate metrological calculations, production control, tank inventory, and risk-free filling, the TankRadar Rex measurement system of the Swiss Endress+Hauser company is being employed.
"As part of the project, the aim is to increase the loading capacity of the refinery to 2 million tons per year. The facility will be supplied with both local raw materials extracted from Saneg's fields and imported resources," noted Abdusalom Abdumanoniy, Deputy Director for Modernization and Prospective Development, adding that "currently, thousands of workers and hundreds of specialized machinery are involved in the project. The work is being carried out systematically and efficiently. Construction of the isomerization unit, which will increase the output of automotive gasoline from processed oil with a higher octane number, will begin soon".
Additionally, construction is underway for a dedicated steam boiler house with a water treatment installation to meet the production needs of both new and existing steam-based technological units.
Key installations are being built to enable the production of new product varieties, including a hydrocracking unit, a hydrogen production unit, and a short-cycle adsorption unit.
An industrial plant for the processing of oil sludge has been put into operation, allowing for the utilization of petroleum waste and its return to the production cycle.
Furthermore, to produce different grades of gasoline, a modern hydrodesulfurization catalyst from French Axens company has been procured and loaded into the reactors of the catalytic reforming unit.
Saneg has launched the modernization project of Fergana Refinery back in 2020. By 2024, the plant is set to expand its product range and enhance the quality of its output, positioning itself as the first and only facility in Uzbekistan to produce Euro 5-grade gasoline and API Group II+/III lubricating oils.
To date, a total of over $249.6 million in external investments and own funds has been invested in the implementation of the modernization project.
