Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region refiners have largely held their crude distillation capacities and products slates steady over the past five years, according to OPEC’s latest Annual Statistical Bulletin (ASB). Data for the 2008-12 period does show the impact of geopolitical turbulence in some countries.
While Iraq’s total throughput capacity has been revived in the post-Saddam era, varying products volumes reflect continuing operational difficulties. Libya’s 2012 output figures show the effects of frequent disruptions through workers’ protests and militia operations. Meanwhile, Algeria’s recent data has been impacted by major upgrades at Skikda refinery (MEES, 19 July).OPEC said that total refining capacity of member countries fell by 1.4% in 2012 compared with 2011. The organization held 10.5% of total world refining capacity in 2012, compared with 10.8% in 2011. OPEC members exported 4.4mn b/d of petroleum products in 2012, with 2.2mn b/d going to the Asia-Pacific region, 600,000 b/d to Europe and 500,000 b/d to Latin America. In 2011, OPEC products exports averaged 4.5mn b/d. (CONTINUED - 386 WORDS)
