Assiut Oil Refining Company (ASORC) has granted Bechtel a contract to provide a delayed coking unit at the Assiut refinery in Egypt.

Under the contract, the construction and civil engineering company will carry out a ThruPlus delayed coking technology for the $1.5bn refinery modernization program. The aim of the delayed coking unit is to upgrade heavy oil into quality, light hydrocarbon liquids and at the same time boost the productivity of the refinery.

“The addition of a modern delayed coking unit was determined to be the most economical option to allow the refinery to increase complexity and eliminate heavy fuel oil product,” Nagi Abd El-Ghaffar Kassab, ASORC chairman said.

The Assiut Refinery upgrade program is intended to boost the production of petroleum products to meet Upper Egypt's rising demands while keeping up to environmental standards.

“The implementation of Bechtel's ThruPlus technology combined with our delayed coking expertise and extensive experience of our people will increase the efficiency of the Assiut refinery. The use of ThruPlus technology at the Assiut refinery will also enhance efficiency of EGPC operations as they already use the technology at a refinery in Alexandria operated by another subsidiary, Middle East Oil Refining Co,” Dan Olsen, Bechtel subsidiary Bechtel Hydrocarbon Technology Solutions President told to Energy Business Review.

The Assiut Oil Refining Company is a subsidiary of the Egyptian General Petroleum (EGPC). In 2015, Technip entered into a deal with EGPC and ASORC for the modernization of the Assiut refinery. This modernization program is aimed at maximizing diesel production using modern refinery technologies so as to meet the growing petroleum products demand.Under the deal, Technip will not only ensure project financing, but will also be in charge of the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) phase of the project.

Anita Fatunji