Najaf Refinery to increase production by 70,000 barrels
Laith Abdul-Rasool, the refinery's manager, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA) that the Iraqi cabinet's recent decision to expand the Najaf Refinery's capacity by 70,000 barrels is part of the Ministry of Oil and Midland Refineries Company's (MRC) strategic goals to boost the quantity of petroleum products supplied to the local market.
A portion of the petroleum products will be exported, which, according to Abdul-Rasool, will lead to a significant increase in earnings.
The step will also provide nearby asphalt and cement facilities with the required fuel.
The current phase represents the start of the refinery's development. It will be followed by other stages to include a gasoline improvement unit, which is an isomerization unit that improves gasoline quality by increasing its octane rating.
The Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, confirmed in late March that the country's refining capacity will reach 1.54 million barrels per day.
Iraq, OPEC's second-largest producer of crude oil, is expanding its oil refining capacity to fulfill domestic demand and lessen dependency on imports despite significant political and economic challenges in the region.
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