Karbala refinery starts trial operation
An oil facility in Iraq. Photo: Iraqi News Agency
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The director of Karbala oil refinery, Mohammad Fazza, announced on Tuesday the beginning of the trial operation of the refinery, and set a date for the beginning of actual production, according to the Iraqi News Agency (INA).
Fazza clarified that the main refining unit in Karbala refinery started to operate, but the actual production and export of final products to warehouses will take place in mid-March, INA mentioned.
Fazza explained that Midland Refineries Company (MRC) is working in cooperation with the foreign contracting companies, and are ready to start the actual operation.
Fazza indicated that the refinery will start with a refining capacity of up to 60 percent, and this capacity will gradually increase according to the completion and readiness of the rest of the other complementary units.
The initial operation of the refinery will start in mid-March, kerosene and diesel production will start in mid-April, gasoline production will begin next May, and the refinery will be operating in full capacity at the end of June, INA explained.
About 600 Iraqi employees were trained since last year, and the training will continue in the refinery this year as well, to increase the experiences of the Iraqis working in the refinery.