Iraq’s Karbala Refinery Hits Full Capacity Despite Unresolved Technical Issues

29 Sep 2023 Issue: 66 / 39 By: Yesar Al-Maleki

Iraq’s new 140,000 b/d Karbala refinery has hit full throughput capacity with all units now operational. Key contractor Hyundai will remain for another year to help iron out technical issues. But the country remains far from gasoline self-sufficiency.

State-owned Midlands Refining Company (MRC) has ramped up throughputs at Iraq’s Karbala refinery to the plant’s full design capacity of 140,000 b/d after its 31,000 b/d fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit was brought online on 23 September.

The refinery has faced significant technical difficulties, including corrosion at its CDU’s heat exchangers, since the start-up of initial units in April and had to be taken offline at one point during the summer as a result (MEES, 9 June). This resulted in significant delays to the plant achieving full operational capacity. However, deputy minister for refining affairs Hamid Younis says that bringing online the FCC was “the final step of the commissioning of all the units at the refinery.” (CONTINUED - 1208 WORDS)