Egypt plans $300M refinery expansion in gasoline; contracts UOP technology

Egypt’s Alexandria National Refining & Petrochemicals Company (ANRPC) will use technology and equipment from Honeywell's UOP as part of a $300-million, multi-year project to expand an existing gasoline production facility, officials announced on Tuesday.

The objective of the project is to meet growing domestic demand for high-octane gasoline.

ANRPC will add a second UOP CCR Platforming process unit, including a modular CCR section, at the facility in Alexandria to produce high-quality reformate, which is used to produce high-octane, low-sulfur gasoline. ANRPC installed the first UOP CCR unit at the site in 2001. 

Egypt became a net importer of gasoline in 2008, as domestic supply has not kept up with demand, which has grown by an average of 3% annually over the past 10 years. 

“This expansion is critical as it will significantly reduce the amount of high-octane gasoline imported by Egypt,” said ANRPC chairman Ahmed Abo El Rooh. “We selected a second continuous catalytic reforming unit from Honeywell UOP, which will be delivered in modular form, to help ensure reliable operations and the shortest possible project schedule.”  

UOP modular equipment is often ideal for remote locations, short project timelines and regions with limited resources, the company says. The modules are built under controlled conditions in fabrication shops and fully inspected prior to shipment. 

UOP modular equipment is designed to reduce installation time and can result in earlier start up, further improving project economics. UOP notes that it offers a full suite of modular refining equipment for a wide range of applications. 

“A second CCR Platforming process unit will help Egypt meet its own growing demand for fuel and provide cleaner-burning, high-octane fuels to address air quality issues in large cities such as Cairo,” said Mike Millard, vice president and general manager of UOP’s process technology and equipment business. “Since commercializing the technology, UOP has brought more than 250 CCR Platforming units on stream worldwide, with a combined capacity of more than 6 million [bpd].”

UOP has worked with refining companies throughout the Middle East for more than 80 years. Today, there are nearly 400 UOP-designed process units operating in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan and Pakistan.

Meanwhile, ANRPC establishes, manages and operates refining, manufacturing and petrochemical plants to produce high-octane gasoline, LPG, propane, hydrogen, heavy naphtha and light reformate, among others. Founded in 1999, ANRPC is based in Alexandria, Egypt, and sells products domestically and internationally.