Kuwait Clean Fuels Project commissions key Hydrocracker Unit

The Clean Fuels Project for Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) has achieved a significant milestone, with the safe and successful commissioning of Hydrocracker Unit 214 at Mina Abdullah Refinery in Kuwait.

This is the second largest hydrocracker unit in Kuwait. It is licensed with a feed processing capacity of 50,000 barrels per stream day (BPSD) and will upgrade heavy gas oil fractions into lighter products through a hydro-cracking process using catalyst and hydrogen. This will enable the production of Kuwait’s new generation of ultra-low Sulphur fuel products, including Euro 5 Diesel, Kerosene and Jet Fuel, Naphtha and LPG.

Petrofac is a joint venture partnership with Samsung Engineering and McDermott International. As well enabling the production of these new, cleaner fuel products, the project will also increase processing capacity at this key project for Kuwait’s refining industry.

Prashant Bokil, JV Project Director, said: "We have progressively continued the commissioning and handover of each unit and the Hydrocracker is another important milestone for this mega project. Thank you to everyone involved, we are focused on safely delivering the remaining work ahead and completing the project to the full satisfaction of our client KNPC."

The Clean Fuels Project, Mina Abdullah Refinery has a total of 12 new process units from five licensors, inter-refinery transfer lines and interconnecting pipe rack. Seven of the units, along with associated flares, have now been commissioned, with the Vacuum Rerun (VRU) Unit 213 currently under commissioning and the remaining four units (HCR-114, ARDS-212 and 112 and CCR-127) in advanced stages of pre-commissioning.