The Iraqi oil ministry said that the country’s biggest Baiji refining complex is targeting to double its capacity in the next few months.
The refinery is currently processing more than 75,000 bpd of crude and is expected to raise it to as high as 140,000 bpd in the coming months. With the ongoing reconstruction and rehabilitation projects, Baiji is estimated to be able to increase processing capacity to 280,000 bpd, just short of its pre-2014 level of 300,000 bpd.
After the taking over of the complex by Islamist militants ISIS in mid-2014, it was severely damaged. Damages intensified later as the Iraqi forces attempted to liberate the facility in late 2015.
Out of the three sections of the complex, only the 70,000 bpd Salahuddin 2 plant has restarted. The 70,000 bpd Salahuddin 1 plant has not restarted even when the work on hydrogen and gasoline units was completed in early 2019. The 150,000 bpd North plant is undergoing measures to resume operations. Two 5,000 bpd lube plants at the complex are also still not operational.
Last week, the country’s oil ministry stated that it has scheduled to complete all the complex restoration works by 2023.
All the while, Iraq has been having to rely on its two other key refining centers, the 140,000 bpd Daura refinery west of Baghdad, and the 210,000 bpd Basrah refinery in the south.