Gazprom Neft says still expects refining to hit record in 2022

MOSCOW, Dec 8 (PRIME) -- Oil company Gazprom Neft still expects its oil refineries in Russia to produce a record of over 41 million tonnes in 2022, Oleg Vedernikov, director of the company’s oil and gas refining division, told reporters on Thursday.

“We maintained the 2022 forecast for a record amount of refining at the Russian oil refineries of the company -- it will exceed 41 million tonnes. The growth of the indicators is secured by an upgrade program of our refineries in Moscow and Omsk,” he said.

In January–September, the company’s oil refining in Russia grew by 3.5% on the year. The company also expects its refining to remain flat on the year in 2023, he said.

Omsk refinery CEO Oleg Belyavsky said that the company planned to continue upgrades – it will launch a 8.4 million tonne primary oil refining unit in 2023 that will allow the plant to decommission six obsolete units, cut operating costs, and raise efficiency of oil refining, he said.

Alexander Chembulayev, CEO of Gazpromneft – Catalytic Systems, told reporters that Gazprom Neft planned to launch the first, 6,000 tonne line of hydroprocessing catalysts that Russia does not produce in 2023.

The second stage of the facility will drive the capacity to 15,000 tonnes of catalysts, covering demand of the Russian market in the product, he said.

Gazpromneft – Lubricants CEO Anatoly Skoromets said that Omsk Lubricant Plant wanted to launch hydroisodewaxing in 2023, and produce up to 220,000 tonnes of base for motor, transmission, and industrial oils to substitute imports.

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