Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan. 23/ Trend , B. Hasanov/ Turcas did not refuse to build oil refining complex in the Mediterranean port of Ceyhan, chairman of Turcas Erdal Aksoy said to Trend while commenting on reports claiming that the implementation of the project has been suspended.
"Turcas can not invest in construction of two refineries in Turkey at the same time because of financial crisis. The plant in Ceyhan can be built later," Aksoy said in a telephone conversation on Jan. 23.
Turcas, part of an alliance which involves the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (Socar), plans to build oil refinery in Ceyhan, the port which receives Azerbaijani oil delivered via Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan.
SOCAR/Turcas/Injas alliance of companies acquired assets of Turkish Petkim petrochemical holding. It was decided to build a refinery to supply the company with crude.
"It is more important for us to build a refinery to supply Petkim with crude," he said.
Regarding ecological problems during construction of refinery in Ceyhan, Aksoy said water channel is traversing the territory where the complex will be built. The company has already designed environmental impact assessment on both construction and operation of the refinery and has submitted it to Ecology Ministry of Turkey.
"Turcas expects Ministry's conclusion," Aksoy said.
The refinery will produce all types of knock-resistant petrol, mazut, diesel, aviation kerosene and petrochemical products. Turkey's demand for oil products totals over 32 million tons per year. It produces 26.5 million tons and import remaining part of oil products from Russia and Italy. Experts say Turkey's demand for oil products will reach 34 million tons in 2010 and 43 million tons in 2012.
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