Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec.25
By Emil Ismayilov - Trend:
The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) has announced about liquidation of Azneftyag oil refinery and its merger with Baku Oil Refinery named after Heydar Aliyev.
The remarks were made by SOCAR Vice-President for Human Resources, Information Technologies and Regulations, Khalik Mammadov at a press conference on Dec.25.
Mammadov said that this decision was made as part of work on improving and optimization of SOCAR's structure.
"All the social issues deriving from that and the work on providing the social sustainability of workers will be ensured," he said.
During the press conference, SOCAR Vice President for economic issues Suleyman Gasimov said that in order to bring SOCAR's structure into line with international standards, major work was carried out for optimization of activities of its various structural units.
"Liquidation of Azneftyag refinery doesn't mean that its operation has been suspended," he said. "The main purpose is to ensure the management of the oil refining process from a single center."
Gasimov added that currently, under the conditions of low oil prices, there is no need to take additional measures on optimization.
SOCAR Vice President for refining David Mammadov said that currently the work is underway on improving the quality and increasing the quantity of petroleum products meeting the international standards.
He said the refining process should be carried out from a single center, adding that the decision on the merger of two refineries was adopted in order to ensure closer integration of these facilities.
"The main purpose is to create a modern refining structure which will require around 3-4 years," said Mammadov. "Thus, all the necessary production of petroleum products will be organized at the Baku Oil Refinery named after Heydar Aliyev and Azneftyag refinery will stop operating."
The vice president also touched upon the construction of a new refinery in the country as part of the new oil and gas processing and petrochemical complex (OGPC). He said its construction will start after completing the construction of OGPC.
The complex will be constructed in accordance with the decree of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on the border of Garadagh and Absheron districts and will be commissioned in 2018-2020.
Edited by SI
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