Iraq: FCC project will achieve self-sufficiency in high-octane gasoline

INA - BAGHDAD

Deputy Prime Minister for Energy Affairs and Oil Minister Hayan Abdul-Ghani confirmed on Saturday, that the completion of the FCC project will achieve self-sufficiency in high-octane gasoline while noting that the project will support the national economy and sustainable development.

“Abdul-Ghani stressed the importance of completing the FCC crushing project on the planned dates, and its direct impact on providing white products to citizens with high quality and efficiency of Euro 5 in addition to the production of high-octane gasoline," according to a statement from the ministry, received by the Iraqi News Agency - INA.

The statement included, “This came during Abdul Ghani’s visit to the FCC cofactor crushing project implemented by the Southern Refineries Company in cooperation with the Japanese company JGC in Basra Governorate, which is considered among the most important vital and developmental projects that contribute to improving the refining industry. It also supports the national economy by enhancing national production and reducing foreign imports.”

He stressed, saying “This project enjoys the support, follow-up and care of Prime Minister Muhammed S. Al-Sudani due to its importance in supporting the national economy and sustainable development,” noting that “this field visit to the project comes within the keenness of the government and the ministry to daily follow up the implementation stages until reaching the final stages of completion according to the planned timings.”

"The project with a production capacity of 55 thousand barrels per day, upon completion at the end of 2025, will contribute to meeting the local need for gasoline. We are planning the trial operation of the project, which extends for a full year, in the middle of next year to reach initial production in this project, the first of its kind in Iraq," he pointed out, adding “The project contributes to the production of 4,200 cubic m of high-octane gasoline per day, 1,600 cubic m of gasoline, and 350 tons of liquid gas (LPG), in addition to other products of high quality and efficiency.”

He pointed out that “the FCC project” converts refinery waste from “black oil” into high-octane gasoline fuel,” explaining that “the FCC project, along with the production of the Karbala refinery and the Al-Smoud refineries in Baiji, will achieve self-sufficiency, and that more than 35 Iraqi national companies are working on the project, and Iraqi labor is relied upon to carry out the secondary missions and contracting.”