Baku, Azerbaijan, April 12
By Emil Ismayilov - Trend:
The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) is working out a program for ensuring the stable operation of its own current processing enterprises in the country, namely, the Baku Oil Refinery named after Heydar Aliyev and the enterprises of Azerkimya Production Association, a senior representative of SOCAR told journalists on April 12.
"It is planned to carry out certain works at these enterprises on reconstruction and stabilization of their operation, for that they would be able to work till the commissioning of a new Oil and Gas Processing and Petrochemical Complex (OGPC)," SOCAR representative said.
It is planned to suspend the operation of Azneftyag refinery and to start its dismantling within two years, according to the source.
"The operation of Azneftyag plant can be suspended after the bitumen production unit, which is the main unit at this enterprise, is transferred to the refinery named after Heydar Aliyev," the source said adding that this process can last from nine months to a year.
The transfer process can begin in 2015, according to the senior representative of SOCAR.
The refinery named after Heydar Aliyev, is mainly oriented to the production of light oil products (which include petrol), while Azneftyag refinery produces dark oil products. The total capacity of the two refineries is 16 million tons of oil per year.
Both of the enterprises were constructed and commissioned during the USSR period and therefore, they require works on modernization and renewal. Furthermore, SOCAR plans to construct a new oil and gas processing and petrochemical complex that will be located in 60 kilometers from Baku ( in the territory of Garadagh and Absheron districts) in order to improve the ecological situation in Baku, as well as to meet the growing demands of the republic for oil products.
Translated by L.Z.