Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, Sept. 11 / Trend H.Hasanov /
Turkmen refineries in the first eight months of 2012, processed 4,666,215 million tons of hydrocarbons, increasing the amount of production of various types of petroleum products, a source in the Ministry of Petroleum Industry said on Tuesday.
In particular, gasoline production amounted to 1,350,789 million tons and production growth was 106.3 per cent. Diesel fuel production reached 1,453,060 million tons and production growth was 101.9 per cent.
The country is implementing a national programme for the Turkmen oil and gas industry development until 2030 which provides for increased volumes of petroleum products in the country and the improvement of their quality as a result of hydrocarbon processing.
In 2015, Turkmenistan plans to increase oil refining capacity to 15 million tons a year, in 2020 - to 20 million tons, in 2025 - to 22 million tons and in 2030 to 30 million tons.
According to the approved plans this will be achieved through the construction of three new refineries and modernisation of existing enterprises, including in Turkmenbashi and Seydi where the winners of the tender have recently been determined.
At the same time, the country annually produces about 10 million tons of oil, most of which is processed by local industries.
Construction of plants for the production of benzene, toluene, xylene and their derivatives will soon begin at the largest enterprise in the country, the refinery in Turkmenbashi.
Today it manufactures various types of gasoline, kerosene, diesel oil, lubricating and universal oil and coke.