OAO President Vagit Alekperov and Vladimir Torlopov, Head of the Komi Republic, participated today in the ceremony of commissioning of a new isomerization unit at ÎÎÎ LUKOIL-Ukhtaneftepererabotka production site.

The unit is designed for manufacturing high-octane gasoline components free from sulfur compounds, benzene and aromatic substances, which enables Ukhta refinery to launch production of automobile gasoline compliant with the EURO-3 and EURO-4 standards.

The rated capacity of the unit in terms of raw materials is 120 thousand tons per annum; its construction cost came to RUR 1.27 billion.

The basic design was elaborated by the US company UOP; the contractor design was developed by OAO Rostovneftekhimproekt. 

‘On behalf of the Company’s management I would like to extend my best wishes to all the employees of the refinery on its 75th anniversary’, Mr. Alekperov said. ‘The commissioning of the isomerization unit is an important stage in the large-scale program of upgrading the refinery and is aimed at doubling its capacity and increasing its processing depth up to 95%’.

On the same day, Vagit Alekperov delivered a lecture at Ukhta State Technical University dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Komi Republic’s petroleum industry.

Ukhta refinery was commissioned in 1934. It became part of LUKOIL Group in October, 1999. Presently, the refinery’s rated capacity comes to 3.7 million  tons a year. Its processing depth is 82.6%, which is one of the best indicators among Russian refineries.