Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Dec.3
By Huseyn Hasanov- Trend:
U.S. Exxon Mobil and Chemlube INT.Inc along with local experts have worked out a project for reconstruction of an oil refinery in Turkmenbashi city, a message from Ministry of Oil and Gas Industry and Mineral Resources of Turkmenistan said.
The U.S. companies have worked out a project for reconstruction of the current facility for the production of base oils through the catalytic isodewaxing process, the message said.
"After the implementation of this project the plant will be able to increase the production of base oils by 100,000 tons per year without the increase of the volume of the processed raw material. It will also be able to produce new types of hydrosynthetic base oils," the message said.
Two refineries operate in Turkmenistan in the cities of Seidi and Turkmenbashi. The latter is the largest enterprise in the country. A full scale reconstruction is being carried out in the Turkmenbashi refinery with the participation of large firms and companies of Germany, Iran, Israel, the U.S., Turkey, France and Japan.
Turkmenistan intends to radically change the flow sheet of the preparation of lubricating oils, the message said.
Currently, the country produces some five grades of base oils. Moreover, the mass production of 30 brands of commercial oils for various functions has been mastered, according to the message.
"Local experts continue the research in extending the range, improving the quality of oils, and compounding of new brands that will be able to compete in the international market," the message said.
The priority of Turkmenistan's oil producers is to increase the volume of production and to improve the quality of road bitumen, the message said.
A tender was held and it is planned to construct a bitumen facility with a capacity of about 300,000 tons of road bitumen as well as 50,000 tons of construction bitumen per year. Moreover, it is planned to construct a bitumen facility at the Seidi refinery.
There are scientific and technical developments being carried out on selection of additives and supplements to improve the quality of road bitumen with the participation of leading European companies.
The volume of the marketable crude oil has hit over 4.4 million tons at Turkmenistan's oil refining complex and the growth rate of the production has increased by 101.9 percent.
The most significant results have been achieved in the production of polypropylene, gasoline, and petroleum bitumen. Some 6.535 million tons of raw materials were processed at Turkmenistan's refining complex in 2012.
Currently, Turkmenistan produces nearly 10 million tons of oil per year and the significant part of it is sent to local refineries.