Countdown for Euro-3 Gasoline at Bandar Abbas Refinery
Given daily growing consumption of gasoline and its significant role in economic growth and development, in case oil producing countries manage to become self-reliant in the production of this valuable product they would be able to meet their domestic demand, save hard currency and even export their surplus production. In Iran, Abadan, Isfahan, Arak, Bandar Abbas, Tehran, Tabriz, Shiraz, Kermanshah and Lavan oil refineries produce gasoline. The output capacity in these oil refineries already exceeds 64 million liters a day.
In recent years, a number of these refineries have undertaken projects to increase their gasoline production capacity. In coming years, new gasoline production projects are to be implemented in Isfahan and Bandar Abbas refineries and the first phase of Persian Gulf Star Refinery is to come on-stream. These projects would help Iran meet its domestic demand and export its surplus production.
Currently, a project is under way at Bandar Abbas refinery for the recovery of 6 ml/d of gasoline and 7.95 ml/d of gasoline in compliance with euro-5 standards. This project is expected to come online later this year. Led by the National Iranian Oil Engineering and Construction Company (NIOEC), the project is 93% completed. The total investment envisaged for this project is 400 million Euros plus IRR 7 trillion and so far 329 million Euros plus IRR 7.45 trillion.
A heavy naphtha hydrogen refining unit with a capacity of 25,000 b/d, light naphtha refining unit with a capacity of 20,000 b/d, isomerization unit with a capacity of 20,000 b/d and a CCR unit with a 25,000 b/d capacity are among the most important units in this project. The technology used for basic designing of these units has been taken from two French companies Axens and Prosernat. The main advantages of this project include reducing the benzene content to less than 1%, reducing sulfur content in oil products to less than 10 ppm, enhancing octane to 90 or 95 and reducing aromatic compounds to below 35%. All these advantages are in the interest of the environment.
Hamid Sharif Razi, executive director of NIOEC, said Bandar Abbas refinery was launched in 1997 with a capacity of 232,000 barrels of crude oil. He said the capacity was brought to 320,000 b/d in 2004.
The official said a consortium of Iranian companies was set up in 2007 to increase gasoline production and boost the quality of petroleum products at Bandar Abbas refinery.
He said that European companies handled only 3% of the total project, adding that the utility units of this plant will become operational in March or April.
Sharif Razi said the feedstock needed for this plant is supplied by Bandar Abbas refinery. The feedstock is light and heavy naphtha.
“By separating sulfur from petroleum products, this project allows daily production of 120 tons of granulated sulfur, which would allow exporting this product,” he added.
Sharif Razi said utility units should be first commissioned and then production will start.