December 19, 1997 - LUKOIL-Volgogradneftepererabotka celebrates its 40th anniversary today. The Volgograd Oil Refinery was incorporated in LUKOIL in 1991.

LUKOIL-Volgogradneftepererabotka is now a large advanced enterprise engaged in the production of fuels and lubricants. The refinery treats 9.8 million tonnes of crude a year with a product yield of 77.5%. Its work force exceeds 5,000.

With an annual output of nearly 1 million tonnes, the refinery has become in recent years one of Russia's largest producers of lubricants. Unleaded motor gasolines, transmission, compressor and turbine oils are on its list of products which also includes benzene, toluene, jet-engine, diesel and furnace fuels, fuel oil, bitumen and coke. The refinery has started pilot production of new kinds of lubricants, in particular for polar areas.

The modernization program now underway will lead to an increase in the production of motor fuels; the products will meet the highest quality standards. Two gas refinery units and units for high-yield refinery of oil residues and isomerization of low-octane gasoline catalytic reforming fractions and 1.4 million tonnes a year diesel fuel hydrocleaning units will be built. The construction of an automatic gasoline blending station with an additional assembly for removal of high-octane dopes will be brought to completion.

As a result of the reconstruction, the annual output of diesel fuel will increase by about 600,000 tonnes, of aviation fuel by 300,000 tonnes and of gasoline by 150,000 tonnes. More than 3 million tonnes of ecologically safe gas fuel will be made. The refinery will cease in a near future the production of leaded motor gasolines and start the production of high-octane Ai-95 and Ai-98 gasolines. The product yield will increase to 92% and the atmospheric pollution will be reduced by about 20,000 tonnes a year.

"We attach great importance to the overhaul and modernization of our oil refineries and so our investment program calls for the allocation of large amounts for these purposes," said LUKOIL President Vagit Alekperov.

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