Construction of Sinopec Anqing Refinery's Expansion Project Begins

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--The cornerstone-laying ceremony for Sinopec Anqing refinery's 160,000-barrel-per-day (BBL/d) expansion project was held at Daguan district of Anqing City on January 18, 2010. This means another large-scale national petrochemical base and refining and chemical complex, integrated with the development of oil, coal, gas and biomass resources has entered its construction stage in Central China, China Petroleum Corporation (Sinopec) (Beijing) announced on January 20, 2010.

Wang Jinshan, the director of Anhui People's Congress, Wang Sanyun, the governor of Anhui Province, Shu Shulin, the general manager of Sinopec, and other leaders and representatives, attended the ceremony.

Sinopec Anqing refinery, initially built in 1974, has an annual crude oil processing capacity of 110,000 BBL/d. The 160,000-BBL/d expansion project involves a total investment of about $900 million, including $104 million for environmental protection. The project is to be invested and operated by Sinopec Anqing Petrochemical Company (Anqing, Anhui), a subsidiary of Sinopec, in China's Anhui province. The expansion project mainly involves the construction of 10 sets of petroleum and chemical devices, the renovation of an existing device, and the elimination of six sets of inefficient small devices.

According to the schedule, the expansion project is expected to begin operations in September 2012. Upon completion, Anqing Petrochemical's comprehensive processing capacity will be expanded from 100,000 to 160,000 BBL/d. In addition, oil quality will be fully upgraded to G-III standard (equivalent to Euro III), and will greatly alleviate the shortage of product oil supply in Central China.

The emission of CO2 and COD will be reduced, as Anqing Petrochemical's processing capacity and oil quality are improved. Meanwhile, the refining and chemical complex also could provide abundant chemical raw materials to support the construction of Anqing Chemical Industry Park, and promote the development of the chemical industry in Anhui province.

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