The ANOPC subsidiary of Assiut Oil Refining Co (Asorc), operator of the simple 4.5mn t/y (90,000 b/d) Assiut refinery in southern Egypt, is working with energy engineering firm TechnipFMC on terms for building a hydrocracker alongside the plant. TechnipFMC chairman and CEO Doug Pferdehirt said when announcing third quarter results on 21 October that “we secured an EPC contract” for the project, which is expected to be booked among inbound orders “by year-end.” While ANOPC awarded the EPC contract in July, TechnipFMC says it is “working with ANOPC to complete the remaining conditions precedent to enable project work to commence.”
The hydrocracker is expected to cost $2.5bn and will process residual fuel oil into 2.8mn t/y (63,000 b/d) of light products including Euro 5 diesel. Egypt’s usual slow progress to EPC and the need to secure project financing means a 2024 start-up is the earliest likely (MEES, 10 July). ANOPC signed a preliminary contract with TechnipFMC and Egypt’s Enppi for the project in February, having awarded Australia’s Worley a project management contract in 4Q18 (MEES, 21 February). (CONTINUED - 177 WORDS)