Saneg Completes the First Stage of the Base oil Quality Improvement Program at the Fergana Refinery

The Fergana Oil Refinery has completed the first stage of reconstruction of the AVT-2 unit – one of the key facilities for the primary processing of hydrocarbon feedstock. The project is part of a broader program aimed at improving the quality of base oils and focuses on enhancing the efficiency of valuable fraction extraction, while aligning production with international standards.

As part of the modernization, internal components of the atmospheric and vacuum columns were replaced with modern packing elements supplied by the Russian company IMPA Engineering Ltd and Switzerland's Sulzer AG. In addition, the circulation process scheme, pipelines, automatic control systems, and instrumentation were upgraded.

Key results:

• The content of light fractions in fuel oil was reduced to 5% (previously at least 15%)
• Recovery of kerosene and diesel fractions increased by more than 9%
• Physical and chemical properties of oil distillates significantly improved
• Flash point was raised and volatility of oil cuts decreased
• The viscosity of the bitumen residue increased, enabling the production of residual oils such as Bright Stock in accordance with REACH standards

Thanks to these upgrades, the base mineral oils produced at the Fergana Refinery now consistently meet the requirements of reputable international standards, including API and the European REACH regulations. The revamped unit allows the production of a full range of base oils – SN-100, SN-150, SN-350, SN-500, SN-600, SN-900, and SN-1200 – without reducing output volumes.

The uniqueness of the project lies in the fact that the engineering solutions were specifically adapted to the feedstock characteristics of the Fergana Refinery. Some of the design solutions implemented by IMPA Engineering Ltd are unparalleled and aim to maximize processing efficiency.

This is the first stage of a large-scale modernization. The next steps include further upgrades to the AVT-2 unit, reconstruction of oil production facilities, and the automation of blending and finished product manufacturing systems.

“The main result is the improved performance of base oils used in the production of finished lubricants under the SEG Motol brand. Since we use additives from leading European suppliers, our in-house base oils ensure that motor and industrial oils meet API, DIN, SAE, ISO, and ILSAC standards,” – emphasized Saneg CEO Tulkin Yusupov.