Italy's Taranto Refinery Undergoes Shutdown

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--The 110,000-barrel-per-day (BBL/d) Taranto refinery, owned and operated by Eni SpA (NYSE:E) (Rome, Italy), has been undergoing a planned maintenance turnaround since August.

The maintenance shutdown started August 20 and is expected to last approximately 60 non-production days. The turnaround, which entails mainly routine inspection, cleaning and maintenance, has affected the 27,000-BBL/d RHU (residue hydrocracker), two claus units, and the hydrogen plant .The maintenance in the RHU includes catalyst replacement and installation of new compressors. Also, the furnace's refractories are being exchanged in the claus units, and furnace retubing is being carried out in the hydrogen unit. The next major shutdown is expected to be in the first quarter of 2011, owing to the catalyst life cycle.

Separately, the new hydrocracker, which will be part of the RHU complex, is expected to be finished by the end of October.

The refinery is located in the coastal city of Taranto in the southern region of Puglia. Built in the 1960s, the refinery can process a wide range of crudes and other feedstock.

For more details, view related July 30, 2009, article - Italy's Taranto Refinery Prepares for Maintenance Shutdown.

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