Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Ferghana Oil Refinery LLC (FNPZ) in Uzbekistan, which passed into trust management of Jizzakh Petroleum LLC JV on 7 March 2020, began reconstruction of existing and construction of new production facilities, according to the approved project for modernization, whose total budget is estimated at US$300 million.

Earlier, the resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. 67 “On measures for the efficient use of the capacities of Ferghana Oil Refinery LLC and the implementation of modernization of the plant” from 7 February 2020 identified the following priority tasks:

starting from 1 July 2023, start production of AI-92 gasoline and diesel fuel that meet modern and environmental requirements of the Euro-5 class;

to modernize the oil block for the production of base and motor oils that meet international standards;

In this regard, the company, from 2020 to 2023, has planned a set of works on the design, procurement of equipment and materials, construction and commissioning of new plants and processes for the production of highly concentrated hydrogen, isomerization of light naphtha, and hydrocracking of vacuum distillates.

Also, as part of the modernization, the existing units for hydrodesulfurization of diesel fuel and naphtha block will be reconstructed with the replacement of existing catalytic systems with modern ones, oil blocks for the production of modern base and motor oils, as well as water and steam supply systems.

At most similar plants with advanced oil refining technologies, the presence of a hydrocracking process is important. In addition to increasing the depth of oil refining, hydrocracking is the main process affecting the flexibility of the technological scheme of the enterprise and improving the quality of produced commercial products, allowing to reach a new level in the processing of raw materials and production.

It is planned that the future configuration of Ferghana Oil Refinery LLC, which includes a complex of hydrocracking, as well as modernized fuel and oil blocks, will make it possible to increase the depth of oil refining up to 92%, contributing to an increase in the output of oil products with high added value. The production of aviation and diesel fuel, as well as base and commercial oils, will increase. The entire product line of FNPZ will change in a qualitative way.

The French company Axens, one of the leading companies offering a full range of solutions for the technological processes of hydrocarbon processing and the production of marketable petroleum products that meet the requirements of international standards, will act as the licensor of the supplied equipment. The basic design will be undertaken by the Italian company WOOD, the leading engineering company in the world, with extensive experience in the implementation of oil refining and petrochemical projects.

The light naphtha isomerization unit will allow producing the high-octane component of AI 92-95 gasolines that meet the modern operational and environmental requirements of the Euro-5 standard, thereby ensuring improved antiknock properties of gasolines while reducing environmental impact and beneficial effects on the country's environmental situation.

After completion of the work, the plant will be able to produce Euro-5 class motor fuel, API II + / III base oils according to API standards and commercial lubricating oils, reduce production costs and production costs.

The Ferghana Oil Refinery is a large industrial complex, being one of the leading enterprises for the production of fuels and lubricants in the region.