Venezuela's PdV has restarted some low-octane gasoline production at its Cardon refinery. Cardon's 86,000 b/d fluid catalytic cracker (FCC) was producing about 47,000 b/d of gasoline of less than 87-octane. A single distillation tower at Cardon was processing about 56,000 b/d of crude.
After blending in alkylate recently imported from Iran, Cardon is now producing about 30,000 b/d of 91-octane gasoline. The presidential palace and oil ministry officials said the resumption of gasoline production is a significant step in PdV's efforts to alleviate a severe fuel shortage and loosen strict rationing measures.
Venezuela will continue importing gasoline this year while PdV focuses on restarting the 108,000 b/d FCC at the 635,000 b/d Amuay refinery and the 61,500 b/d FCC at its 140,000 b/d El Palito refinery.
The US-sanctioned government of President Nicolas Maduro says it is in talks with Iran to secure monthly imports of up to 600,000 bl of gasoline, equivalent to 20,000 b/d or about 13 percent of the suppressed consumption prior to the local onset of the health crisis in March.
