On December 6 this year, as part of the national teleconference, CEO of the “Atyrau Oil Refinery LLP” (AOR) G. Amanturlin reported to Head of State Nursultan Nazarbayev on the progress of construction of the complex of Advanced Oil Refining Center (AORC). The event was also attended by Akim of the Atyrau region N. Nogayev.

“In accordance with your instructions, we have completed the first phase of modernization of the refinery - put into operation production of aromatic hydrocarbons! At present, in the active phase is the implementation of the second stage – “Construction of AORC.” Implementation of the project will rid of the shortage of high-octane gasoline and jet fuel in the domestic market, improve the quality of products and reduce harmful effects on the environment. And next year we will make raw materials for the installation of catalytic cracking,” said Mr. Amanturlin.

Construction of AORC is being realized in the framework of the State program of Accelerated Industrial-Innovative Development of Kazakhstan (AIID). In December 2012, the investment project “Construction of the AORC” entered the stage of practical implementation. The volume of investment was KZT 530 billion. According to the project, there will be an increase in capacity of the secondary processes of up to 2.4 million tonnes per year, of oil processing depth from 62 to 84 percent, of light oil output from 48 to 77 percent, as well as increase the volume of oil refining up to 5.5 million tonnes per year.

“It is a very important company for the country. Considering today’s - not very pleasant energy, oil and gas prices, processing is our main goal. This is the main point of country’s industrialization - to recycle the raw materials that we have. Your refinery is the biggest and expensive project. And we will finish it as we want, and the second stage, too. Then we will deal with petrochemicals in the Atyrau region as well,” said Nursultan Nazarbayev, accepting the report from Amanturlin.

At the moment, the AOR is implementing the construction of 12 technological units and 49 common facilities. Forty-six companies are involved in the construction – 42 from Kazakhstan and four from abroad. Some 1,656 workers are employed on construction sites. Some 1,246 oversized units have been installed at the refinery of the total 1,345. Kazakh companies “Belkamit LLP” (reactors, tanks, columns); “SVHI LLP” (tanks, chimney for the reaction furnace); “Petropavlovsk Heavy Engineering Plant JSC” (container); “AtyrauNefteMash LLP” (hopper – tanks for the catalyst, 404 tonnes each) and “GMMOS LLP” (tanks). Assembly of steel structures and technological pipelines are underway while laying of utilities is nearing completion. The staff for the work at AORC has been selected. They are being trained in various on-site trainings abroad.

The project “Construction of AORC at AOR” is meant to improve the environmental quality of the refinery’s production, efficient use of valuable petroleum feedstock and increasing environmental safety. After the full implementation the AOR will provide a significant increase in the production of motor gasoline, aviation fuel and liquefied natural gas, as the project will enable the production of aromatic hydrocarbons to the maximum capacity, the full range of petroleum products will comply with the requirements of environmental grades K-4, K-5 Technical Regulations of the Customs Union.