The English company KBC has developed a basic design for the reconstruction of the visbreaking unit for Naftan.

September 3, Minsk / Milena Anufrienok - BELTA /. The English company KBC has developed a basic design for the reconstruction of the Visbreaking/Thermal Cracking unit for Naftan OJSC, the enterprise informed BELTA. In the fourth quarter of 2009, the plant plans to hold a tender for the detailed design and complete supply of equipment for the unit's modernization. Its technical re-equipment is planned for 2010. The Visbreaking/Thermal Cracking unit is an important link in Naftan's technological chain, ensuring the production of commercial fuel oil component from heavy oil residues. In addition, this equipment produces some gasoline and diesel fuel. As a result of the reconstruction, it is expected to increase the unit's capacity by approximately 20-25%, which will ensure a greater depth of oil refining at the enterprise. In parallel, Naftan continues to implement other investment projects: the construction of the Penex low-temperature isomerization unit, the reconstruction of the AT-8 primary oil refining unit, and the technical re-equipment of the AVT-2 vacuum unit, all of which are planned to be completed in 2010. A project is also underway to create a delayed coking unit for oil residues (to be commissioned in 2011). In accordance with Naftan's development program, by 2011 it is planned to increase the volume of processed oil at the plant to 12 million tons per year and to increase the refining depth to 90-95%. The Novopolotsk oil refinery was commissioned in 1963 and became a joint-stock company in 2002. The enterprise is part of the Belneftekhim concern and specializes in the production of fuel and oil products, manufacturing over 70 items. About 70% of the products are supplied to CIS countries, the European Union, the Middle East, and the USA. -0-