Slovnaft AS, a subsidiary of MOL Group, Budapest, will begin a partial shutdown of its 6.1 million-tonne/year refinery in Bratislava, Slovakia, beginning Apr. 15 for 2 months of routine maintenance.
Part of its regularly scheduled program to ensure reliable operations, the planned turnaround will involve the phased shutdown of 16 production units for extensive technical inspections, maintenance, and equipment aimed at increasing energy efficiency and safety of processing activities at the plant, Slovnaft said.
To be executed by subsidiary Slovnaft Montaze a Opravy AS, the turnaround will require a total investment of more than €57 million, of which €33 million will be spent on repairs and maintenance, and more than €24 million on modernization works.
Slovnaft did not disclose details regarding specific units to be shut down or projects to be executed during the turnaround.
With sufficient stocks already in storage in preparation for the event, supply commitments to refinery customers will not be interrupted during the shutdown period, the company said, adding that it would cover any increased customer demand with production from other MOL Group refineries, or if necessary, by local purchases on export markets.
The Bratislava refinery is scheduled to resume full production rates in mid-June, according to the operator.
Contact Robert Brelsford at [email protected].