Upgrade of Belarus’ oil refineries to conclude in 2016

The upgrade of Belarusian oil refineries will be concluded in 2016, First Deputy Premier of Belarus Vladimir Semashko said at a joint session of the House of Representatives and the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus on 31 October, BelTA has learned.

“The comprehensive upgrade of oil refineries is to be completed in 2016. This will allow increasing oil refining capacities up to 12 million tonnes per year (the figure has been about 9 million tonnes recently) and the oil processing depth up to 92-93% (today it makes up 70-72%). This, in turn, will generate an additional profit of $80-90 per every processed tonne of oil,” Vladimir Semashko said.

The other day Belarusian Prime Minister Mikhail Myasnikovich set a task to conclude the upgrade of Belarusian oil refineries in 2015-2016. “It should be done long before 2017 or 2018. All these works should be completed in 2015 and 2016,” he said. The Premier demanded that approved upgrade schedules of oil refineries should be submitted to him by 1 November.

Mozyr Oil Refinery was commissioned in 1975; Novopolotsk Oil Refinery (today’s Naftan) was inaugurated in 1963. The upgrade of these oil refineries has been gaining momentum over the past 5-6 years. According to the First Vice Premier, from $150 million to $250 million is invested in their upgrade every year.

According to Belneftekhim Concern, the technological level and production capacities of the Belarusian oil refineries allow meeting Belarus’ domestic demand for high-quality and eco-friendly (Euro-5 and higher) oil products. Belarus will also be able to export up to 1.8 million tonnes of motor gasoline to Russia in 2015. In January-September 2014 over 1.2 million tonnes of Belarusian oil products were sold in Russia. Last year the figure was estimated at over 1.4 million tonnes.