London, 2 February (Argus) — Capacity at Morocco’s only refinery at Mohammedia will rise to 218,000 b/d by 1 July with the start-up of a new 88,000 b/d crude distillation unit, according to an official at state refining company Samir.
Capacity might then fall to 178,000 b/d if Samir follows through on a plan from last year to close two old crude distillation units, accounting for 40,000 b/d.
The start-up of the new unit is key to the refinery, as it will allow it to produce sufficient straight-run fuel oil to run its new 36,000 b/d hydrocracker at full capacity. This will increase the refinery’s output of 50ppm diesel and jet fuel.
Morocco will also no longer need to import VGO, said the official, as the new distillation unit will be able to fulfil its domestic needs.
Mohammedia is likely to undergo maintenance at the end of 2012 and into 2013. The refinery will be only partially shut down but the details are still being discussed. The refinery’s naphtha-to-gasoline reformer underwent maintenance for three weeks between September and October 2011.
New bitumen blowing units were started in the summer of 2011, pushing bitumen production to 9,500 b/d, up from 4,800 b/d.
The 25,600 b/d Sidi Kacem refinery in Morocco was converted into a distribution point over one year ago.
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