Trial operation has begun for expansions to increase the refining capacity of the Nasr Petroleum Refinery in Suez. On Saturday, June 1, 2024, the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Tarek El Molla, opened the trial operation of these expansions that aim to maximize high-value petroleum products, represented by the new condensate distillation project at an investment cost exceeding two billion pounds.

According to a statement from the Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum, the new project aims to benefit from the production of condensates associated with gas, in addition to maximizing the added value of it, by converting it into high-value petroleum products such as diesel and naphtha, which are necessary for the production of high-octane gasoline and the main raw material in some petrochemical production projects, in addition to kerosene. And aviation fuel.

Al-Mulla stated that the local component contributed significantly to the implementation of the new project, in implementation of the Ministry of Petroleum’s direction to increase the percentage of the local component in new projects to reduce the cost, by manufacturing many of the main components and parts in the local manufacturing centers of Petrojet Company, which implemented the project work as a general contractor.

The Egyptian Minister of Petroleum stated that during the recent period, Petrojet succeeded in manufacturing important components used in refineries, including salt separators, which were relied upon in many projects, localizing their manufacturing in Egypt and dispensing with importing them from abroad.

Al-Mulla added that the new condensate distillation project in Suez is considered a development and modernization of an ancient refinery that has been operating since 1911, and is considered an enhancement of its production capabilities. He also drew attention to the importance of the steps that were taken and implemented to contract for this project, which has a production capacity exceeding one million tons, in addition to other projects. Before the emergence of the recent global challenges and their resulting repercussions, with the increasing cost of establishing such types of projects.

The head of Al-Nasr Petroleum Company, Mohamed Abdullah, stated that the new project aims to establish a new condensate distillation unit. With the aim of increasing the refining capacity of the company’s refinery by about 1.2 million tons annually after operating the new unit, to record an increase from the current capacity from 6.5 million tons to 7.7 million tons.

Abdullah went on to say that this project is considered the first of its kind at Al-Nasr Petroleum Company, and that it allows the use of condensate crude to maximize the company’s production rate of high-value petroleum products, and at the same time allows it to benefit from the rest of the existing units for refining other types of crude.

Abdullah pointed out that the trial operation of the unit took place after the civil works of the project were fully implemented and operated by Egyptian companies. Petrojet carried out the work as general contractor, and EEPROM is providing operation and technical support for the project.

The head of Al-Nasr Petroleum Company explained that the progress rate of work on the new gas recovery unit project has reached more than 93%, which is the project currently being implemented by Petrojet Company with the aim of producing butane.