Azerbaijan, Baku, Oct. 4 /Trend E. Ismayilov/
The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan is going to complete planned works on reconstruction and modernization of a number of general installations at Baku refinery named after Heydar Aliyev, a high ranking SOCAR representative reported to Trend.
"We are planning to complete the work in 2014, but it's possible that market conjuncture, prices and other unexpected conditions will prolong this process till 2015, " the source stated.
In his words, modernization of initial oil transportation installation with considerable reserves on reduction of energy consumption and increase of catalytic cracking installation capacity are planned in particular.
Installation of catalytic cracking is the general gasoline producing installation. 65 per cent of gasoline production falls to the share of catalytic cracking.
SOCAR representative said. installation capacity will be increased from 2 to 3 million tons a year following modernization and extension work,
When it comes to possible prolongation of reconstruction and modernization process, the representative noted that capacity increase of catalytic cracking is rather a complicated process, as it's linked with long period of simultaneous reconstruction.
The installation will be stopped for the period of 40 to 60 days, this is why the volume of work will be considerable.
"We have to be prepared for this process, conduct reserves of gasoline and other types of fuel, in order to overcome this period without loss. This is why its better to stop the construction work for half year in order to make preparations," SOCAR representative stated.
Oil products are produced at two Baku refineries with summary capacity of 20 million tons oil a year. Both refineries belong to SOCAR, which processes around 6 million tons oil, extracted onshore and offshore.
Baku refinery named after Heydar Aliyev is mostly directed to production of light types of oil, Azerneftyag - dark types of oil products.