New production unit for desulphurization of diesel

abarrelfull wrote on 07 Dec 2012 12:31
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25/11/2004

SLOVNAFT, a.s. company today ceremonially commissions a new production unit for desulphurization of diesel (HDS 7).
The new production unit will enable SLOVNAFT to produce the entire production of diesel in “zero sulphur” quality and thus to meet the European Union standards effective not only since the Y2005 but also Y2009. Pursuant to the European directive, since January 2009 content of sulphur in all diesel sold may not exceed 10mg/kg. Daily capacity of the new unit is 5,500 ton of the ultra low sulphur diesel. Total construction expenses amounted to SKK 3.2 billion.

“The new production unit will strengthen position and competitiveness of SLOVNAFT on the European market“ said Vratko Kaššovic, the CEO of SLOVNAFT. By means of state-of-the-art technology and yet improved diesel parameters the new plant considerably contributes to reduction in environmental burden. Following the implementation of the project the quantity of emissions from combustion processes will decrease by almost 29 tons annually, by 11.9 million m3 less cooling waters will be charged to the Malý Dunaj and the volumes of sulphur oxide emissions will be cut by app. 780 tons within the whole area of the “zero sulphur ” diesel use.

Construction works on the HDS 7 unit started in July 2003. Contractor managed to complete the construction 3 weeks ahead of scheduled deadline and so the first tons of the product could be produced already by October 2004 end. Licensor of the desulphurization process is Danish company Haldor Topsoe and main contractor of the construction is ABB Lummus Global from the Czech Republic.

In the past years SLOVNAFT refinery underwent through large-scale modernization and now ranks among the most sophisticated refineries in Europe. The HDS 7 project represents an extension of the EFPA (Environmental Fuel Project Apollo) project that was targeted at effective processing of crude oil and production of ecological gasoline. Since completion of the EFPA project in 2001 SLOVNAFT is producing only “zero sulphur” quality automotive gasoline. From now the entire production of diesel will also meet this quality.

The HDS 7 project is also another evidence of benefits generated by the strategic partnership of SLOVNAFT and MOL companies. Thanks to development harmonization of the MOL Group refineries in Bratislava and Százhalombatta, the Group could utilize another synergies resulting from the strategic partnership and integrated operations. The current development of refineries focused on production of sulphur free automotive fuels was carried out based on the same license and in cooperation with several joint suppliers. Transfer of know-how between project teams from both refineries played very important role as well.

SLOVNAFT is a member of multinational MOL Group, leading integrated oil, petrochemical and gas company in the Central and Eastern Europe. MOL Group processes about 14 million ton crude per year.

• New production unit for desulphurization of diesel

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