PetroKazakhstan Oil Products TOO (PKOP) is an oil refinery located in South Kazakhstan Oblast near the city of Shymkent. This refinery was built in 1985 and is the newest among three refineries of Kazakhstan. The refinery accounts for about 35% of the total oil product output in the RK.

 

Today PKOP produces several grades of top-quality gasoline and diesel, vacuum gas oil, mazut, jet fuel and liquefied gas. In 2008 the Shymkent refinery processed more than 4.3 million tons of oil versus the planned 4.1 million tons. The light product yield reached 62%. The portion of high octane gasolines in the total gasoline yield was 59% compared with 56% achieved in 2007.

 

Since purchasing PKOP in 2000 the company has invested significant funds in the refinery upgrade. Only during the past two years more than 30 million USD have been spent for these purposes. One of PKOP’s achievements, i.e. the cost reduction and the increased refining efficiency, has become possible due to implementation of production improvement programs, revamps of the existing units and introduction of new up-to-date technologies.

 

In 2008 the work was continued to reequip crude oil tanks (to remove oil sludge and fully repair and reconstruct crude oil tank 301/1 with a capacity of 50,000 m3) and to complete projects related to: purchasing of an absorbent to remove chlorine from circulating H2 gas of the Pre-Hydrotreater with the view of optimizing the unit operation, the air cooling project for distribution transformer substations 1 and 2 at LK-6U Unit to ensure reliability of the electric equipment operation, the upgrade of the water treatment unit to ensure corrosion protection of pipelines and reduce consumption of chemicals (ammonia water), and installation of an additional vapor cooler in the boiler house to improve reliability of the steam supply to the refinery, which is very important in ensuring a trouble-free operation of the equipment. Also in 2008 a record service life of the catalysts was achieved at the Pre-Hydrotreater, the Catalytic Reformer and the Diesel Dewaxer and catalysts’ performance was optimized to increase their cycle time. Within the framework of the 2008 turnaround the following main activities were completed: regeneration of the Reformer catalyst; regeneration, dumping and dense loading of the Diesel Dewaxer catalyst; repair of the Reformer compressor turbine; repair of the lining and coils of process furnaces; and repair of the cladding (protective) layer on the main atmospheric distillation tower.

 

In 2009 some work will be done under the Shymkent Refinery Modernization Project, which will include surveys of crude oil and refined product markets and selection of companies for developing a feasibility study. It is planned to increase the conversion depth, improve the quality of products up to Euro-3 requirements (by revamping the existing units and constructing the new ones), expand the product slate with high-value petrochemicals (polypropylene and benzene), increase the crude oil throughput capacity and reduce the refinery impact on the environment of South Kazakhstan Oblast (SKO).

 

PKOP is the largest tax payer in South Kazakhstan Oblast. Based on results of its activities in 2008 PKOP paid $ 50 million of taxes to the budget.

 

Significant funds are allocated by PKOP for social projects and charity. The sponsorship provided by PKOP is mainly focused on the support of sporting, educational and cultural events in SKO, assistance provided for children, old people and poor citizens of the region, as well as implementation of programs providing social support for employees and former employees of the company.