09-09-2020

Uzbekneftegaz revamps Bukhara refinery with Honeywell UOP technology

Honeywell today announced Bukhara Refinery LLC, a subsidiary of JSC Uzbekneftegaz, will use UOP technology to increase crude oil conversion and produce cleaner-burning Euro-V standard gasoline and diesel fuel in compliance with the government of Uzbekistan’s stricter specifications for fuel products taking effect in 2023.
 
Honeywell UOP will provide licensing and basic engineering design services to Bukhara Refinery LLC for new Naphtha Hydrotreating, Par-Isom™, RFCC™, SelectFining™ and Merox™ process units. In addition, the existing DHT and ARU units are to be revamped to meet new requirements. The Euro V standard limits sulfur content to less than 10 parts per million in transportation fuels and restricts emissions of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrous oxides and particulate matter from gasoline and diesel vehicles and will improve overall refinery emissions.
 
“The Bukhara Refinery is revitalizing its operations for improved quality and increased production of fuels to meet growing domestic demand for motor fuels,” said Bryan Glover, vice president and general manager, UOP Process Technologies. “The company selected UOP due to its experience in working in the region and its technologies to assist Uzbekneftegaz in meeting sustainability goals.”
 
The Bukhara refinery is part of the Uzbekistan government’s multi-year development plan to achieve national energy independence and increase the country’s export potential. With 33 million people, Uzbekistan is the most populous country in Central Asia and is a significant producer and exporter of oil and natural gas.
 
The Par-Isom™ process upgrades light naphtha into high-value isomerate for gasoline blending, and the Merox process treats the naphtha feedstock to meet product specifications. UOP’s Resid Fluid Catalytic Cracking process converts heavy feedstocks into cleaner-burning gasoline and diesel products that meet new global emissions regulations.The SelectFining process uses selective hydrodesulfurization of naphtha to meet low-sulfur gasoline specifications while minimizing octane loss.