Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) is moving forward with its plans to diversify crude feedstock at its 817,000 bpd Ruwais refining complex. In the past two months, the company completed the installation of new processing facilities as part of the $3.5-billion crude flexibility project (CFP) project which will allow it to process crude other than ADNOC’s flagship light, sour Murban.
The installed new units include two new fractionators and 24 atmospheric residue desulfurizer reactors which can process ADNOC’s heavy, sulphur-rich Upper Zakum crude grade. Those units marked 73% completion of the CFP. When the CFP is completed in 2022, Ruwais can process up to 50 crudes, including 420,000 bpd of Upper Zakum.
The CFP is part of ADNOC’s plans to maximize the value of the emirate’s natural resources. It will allow the company to export more barrels of high-valued Murban which accounts for roughly 80% of the UAE’s total crude production.
