PRL advances upgrade of Karachi refinery

Pakistan Refinery Ltd. (PRL) is moving forward with its previously announced plan to upgrade and expand its 55,000-b/d hydroskimming refinery along the coastal belt of Karachi, Pakistan (OGJ Online, Mar. 17, 2016).

The proposed $1-billion project aims to upgrade the site into a deep conversion refinery as a means of achieving compliance with the government of Pakistan’s requirement for products that meet Euro 2 diesel specifications (i.e., 500 ppm sulfur), PRL said in filing to Pakistan Stock Exchange Ltd.

With a detailed feasibility study for the upgrading project already completed, PRL said its board of directors has decided to invite expressions of interest from engineering contractors for the award of the project’s front-end engineering and design as well as engineering, procurement, and construction contracts.

A revised estimated investment cost will be determined following completion of FEED activities, followed by taking of final investment decision and execution of EPC.

The operator, however, did not reveal a specific timeframe for the project’s anticipated completion.

Upon announcing the project in 2016, PRL said the work intends to position the refinery for sustained profitability by altering its production slate to increased output of higher-margin products. The refinery revamp is to include installation of a diesel hydrotreating plant as well as a thermal gas oil unit.

Alongside a 55,000-b/d crude distillation unit, the Karachi hydroskimming refinery’s other major existing units include a 60-b/d hydrodesulfurization unit, a 10-b/d platforming unit, and an 11-b/d isomerization unit, according to the operator’s web site.

The refinery also houses an LPG recovery unit, steam-generation unit, power-generation unit, effluents-water treatment unit, and water-softening unit.

Contact Robert Brelsford at [email protected].