Bazian Oil Refinery in Sulaymaniyah: Investments, Expansion Plans and Energy Security

Saad Hassan, Vice Chairman of Qaiwan Group of Companies, an operator of the Bazian Refinery near Sulaymaniyah, talks about the expansion plans and the strategy.

“At the Bazian Refinery we have increased production from 20,000 barrels to 40,000 barrels. This has been completed with great success. We are building a gasoline block to produce gasoline from the refinery. By the second quarter of 2013 we will produce gasoline. Currently we are producing kerosene and diesel. We do not yet produce gasoline because the block is yet to be completed and the process requires more complex technology. This is why we couldn’t complete the processing of 35,000 barrels per day of refined crude oil, but in a couple of months we should be producing our own gasoline.” Says Hassan.

The expansion plans are underway with the planned expansion of the refinery that cost US $280 million.

Hassan adds: “We completed the project within the budget. We have a second expansion project which is cutting edge in terms of refineries. The initial cap of exports will be US $700 million. The upgrade will be over a period of four years.”