Part of Iraq’s Ministry of Oil, the state-owned South Refineries Company (SRC) executed the upgrading of its refinery located in Basrah, Iraq by implementing a new refining plant adjacent to the existing refinery facility. The Basrah Upgrading Project is now reaching the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) phase carried out by JGC Corporation (JGC).

Axens is pleased to continue being involved in this important Iraqi project, which will increase the gasoline and diesel production along with other oil products, reducing the national refined products imports. The Basrah Upgrading Project will also improve oil refinery efficiency of the complete facility.

Different Axens’ technologies were selected and will be used:

- a Diesel hydrotreatment unit (Prime-DTM),
- a VGO Hydrotreating unit
- a VGO FCC unit,
- an oligomerization unit (PolynaphthaTM)

Thus, an integrated scheme around the FCC unit is implemented thanks to Axens’ unique position for a complete FCC suite of technologies from pre-treatment to post-treatment. The PolynaphthaTM technology downstream the FCC unit for oligomerization of light olefins aims at maximizing gasoline production.

With this award, another reference is added to the long list of more than 300 FCC projects. Industrial successes in this domain keep the FCC Alliance as a global leader with a track record of 4 new grassroots FCC units started up in the past 4 years.

In addition, Axens will provide catalysts & adsorbents, key technology features such as proprietary equipment, trainings and technical services.

“The Basrah refinery is expanding its operations by increasing its gasoline and diesel production while improving the fuels quality. This will help to solve one of the main challenges to lower national petroleum products imports revitalizing the Iraqi refining sector damaged by war and deterioration. South Refineries Company selected Axens for its wide and proven experience in refining as a partner to supply technologies but also to support throughout the whole project,” said Jacques Rault, Conversion & clean fuels Business Line Director, Process Licensing at Axens.

“The Iraqi Ministry of Oil and the Southern Refineries Company with the support of the Japanese government represented by the JICA Organization are doing great work to complete the Basrah Refinery Development / FCC Project by adopting the latest technologies and designs provided by Axens. With the construction contract signed with the Japanese company JGC on October 1, 2020 and then activated on February 15, 2021, the project activities started according to the agreed schedule. Among other developments, we are pleased to complete this vital and important project that supports the production of oil derivatives meeting international standards and environmental requirements adopted in this field and relieves the burden of oil products imports,” said Ibraheem Al-Salihi, FCC Project Manager, South Refineries Company.

About Axens’ FCC technology

With over 60 FCC grassroots design and over 250 FCC revamp projects, Axens and the FCC Alliance partners have been successful in the fluid catalytic cracking industry for decades. The FCC Alliance’s original expertise emanates from the cracking of heavy residuum feedstock, which allows tackling nowadays various industry challenges and boasting various records in propylene production in these FCC units.

Created in 1982, the FCC Alliance was made up of Axens, IFP Energies nouvelles, Total and TechnipEnergies.

About Axens

Axens is a group providing a complete range of solutions for the conversion of oil and biomass to cleaner fuels, the production and purification of major petrochemical intermediates as well as all of natural gas' treatment and conversion options. The offer includes technologies, equipment, furnaces, modular units, catalysts, adsorbents and related services. Axens is ideally positioned to cover the entire value chain, from feasibility study to unit start-up and follow-up throughout the entire unit cycle life. This unique position ensures the highest level of performance with a reduced environmental footprint. Axens global offer is based on highly trained human resources, modern production facilities and an extended global network for industrial, technical supports & commercial services. Axens is an IFP Group company.

About South Refineries Company (SRC)

South Refineries Company manages the Basrah Refinery, which is considered as the largest oil refineries in Iraq. The refinery built in the 1970s has a current capacity of 210,000 barrels per day and is now under expansion to reach a capacity of 280,000 barrels per day. Furthermore, an upgrading conversion program is ongoing to convert heavy products into light products and thus improving the economics of the asset.

About JGC Corporation (JGC)

Since its founding in 1928, JGC has implemented diverse plant and facility EPC projects in the oil and gas field. These cover oil and gas production, separation and integration, oil refining, gas processing, lng, petrochemicals and gas chemicals, and LNG receiving terminals. It is known for its global top-class performance as an engineering contractor in the field of oil and gas extraction and treatment supported by a broad range of engineering technologies and excellent project management capabilities.