Iraq’s oil ministry stated that the ongoing reconstruction and rehabilitation projects at the Baiji refining complex would expand its processing capacity from 75,000 bpd currently to 140,000 bpd in the next few months. However, it was smaller than the 300,000 bpd capacity before the complex was captured by Isis militants in mid-2014. The facility was severely damaged during the capture, which deteriorated further during the fighting when Iraqi forces attempted to retake the complex in 2015.
Baiji refining complex consists of three sections. The 70,000 bpd Salahuddin 2 plant resumed processing in September 2018. Workers completed work on hydrogen and gasoline units of the complex’s 70,000 bpd Salahuddin 1 plant in early 2019, but the plant remained idle. The ministry is also working to bring back the 150,000 bpd North plant online. The ministry said that the work would expand the plant’s capacity to 280,000 bpd by 2023.
