KNPC expands Mina Al-Ahmadi & Mina Abdullah refinery capacities
Sources confirmed that KNPC has completed numerous maintenance operations on several units in the two refineries and is currently undertaking comprehensive maintenance to increase its production capacity. Sources said the company utilizes the most advanced smart digital technologies to continue production operations optimally, especially since these technologies have a high capacity to predict breakdowns.
Sources stated that to increase the production capacity of Mina Al- Ahmadi Refinery, the company will focus on increasing the operating capacity of the atmospheric distillation residual sulfur removal unit; thereby, raising its production from 50,000 barrels per day to 55,000 barrels. Sources revealed this is in addition to increasing the operating capacity of the atmospheric distillation residual sulfur removal units at Mina Abdullah Refinery to reach 50,000 to 55,000 per unit.
Sources disclosed that the target expansion plan includes increasing the operating capacity of the naphtha processing unit from 23,000 barrels to 25,8000 barrels per day at the Mina Abdullah Refinery. Sources also cited the ongoing efforts to increase the operating capacity of the gasoline production unit at Mina Abdullah Refinery from 18,000 to 20,000 barrels per day. Sources added that the production capacity of the petroleum coke production unit at Mina Al-Ahmadi Refinery will be increased from 37,000 barrels to around 44,400 barrels per day.
Sources affirmed as well that evaluations are underway for several other units at the two refineries in preparation for increasing their production capacity. Sources said KNPC is currently leading an ambitious plan to increase the production of clean refining materials through various means in order to protect the environment. 'Therefore, it is working diligently to reduce emissions through the use of alternative energy. It is expanding the use of alternative energy through solar panels at its fuel stations -- both the existing ones and those to be built in the coming years. The company intends to implement several projects in the coming years to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050,' sources added.
Moreover, sources attributed the decline in the profits of the company for fiscal 2024/2025 to several factors; particularly the geopolitical factors in the region, entry of new African refineries into service, and resumption of Russian refineries, some of which ceased operations some years ago due to the Russian- Ukrainian war. Sources also cited the official launching of the Kuwaiti-Omani Duqm Refinery in February 2024 as one of the factors, as most global markets relied on it, especially during the intensification of geopolitical crises, as well as the recession that accompanied product purchases
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