Expert: Foreign Specialists May Have to Help with ANPZ

After a scheduled repair, the Atyrau oil refinery could not launch one of the most critical units - the delayed coking unit (DCU). Foreign specialists may have to be invited to solve the problem, Orda.kz reports.

Oil and gas industry analyst Askar Ismailov shared his opinion on the issue. He noted that two important questions arise concerning the plant's launch.

First: who did the repairs and does this contractor have experience in repairing the DCU. And second: how did this company pass the tender procedures, where the contractor should be checked for compliance. This is already the capacity of the specialists of the ANPZ itself. What could be the problem? If the unit is not launched, then most likely there are problems with the lining - the most important part of the DCU reactor. The remaining parts of the DCU can be solved in the normal course of business. This means that the unit will have to be disassembled and reassembled. And this takes time,  emphasized Askar Ismailov.

The expert notes that there is no talk of sabotage. The current enterprise management may think otherwise, but the reason for this is a protracted conflict between the CEO and the team. Actual claims are more likely to arise against the contractor who carried out the repairs. It may be necessary to bring in foreign specialists to fix the problem.

They will most likely bring in specialists from Russia. For example, from Taneco (Tatneft), where ANPZ employees were previously sent for familiarization and advanced training. Lukoil and Rosneft also have their own refineries, but they have no history of cooperation in terms of oil refining, said Askar Ismailov.

The repercussions can be serious for a contractor who fails to repair an essential installation. It is likely to be blacklisted.

As for the equipment, the analyst recommends bearing in mind another vital unit for catalytic cracking. It has already undergone repairs many times and is in poor condition.

And the most important thing. It is time to think more seriously about building a fourth refinery. If Kazakhstan's refineries are repaired and serviced in this way, then there will be only two large refineries left in the country. PKOP and PNHZ have not yet been brought to a deplorable state, but they could be, as practice shows. I am often asked whether the situation at the ANPZ can be corrected. The answer is yes, but radical changes are needed there, the expert sums up.

We reported in detail what was happening at the Atyrau Oil Refinery and that one of the most important units had still not been launched. ANPZ LLP later announced that the plant was operating as usual but not without reservations. The volume of fuel production at the plant is now much lower than normal, which is directly related to problems with the launch of the delayed coking unit.

Original Author: Nikita Drobny