Iraq starts work on new Basrah complex

摘要

Iraq is moving ahead with the construction of a new downstream facility in Basrah, taking a major step towards increasing its yield of light products to meet rapidly growing domestic demand. Prime minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi laid the foundation stone for a long-delayed new fluid catalytic cracker (FCC) complex at the 210,000 b/d Basrah refinery on 11 April. Work is now due to officially begin on the facility, which includes a 34,500 b/d FCC unit, a 55,000 b/d vacuum distillation unit and a 40,000 b/d diesel desulphurisation unit, among others. Completion of the project is targeted for 2025. The new complex aims to add 19,000 b/d of gasoline, 36,000 b/d of diesel and 41,000 b/d of fuel oil production capacity, as well as 4,300 t/d of LPG, to reduce the gap between supply and demand for oil products in Iraq.