Dismantling of obsolete equipment (from a different era in terms of environmental friendliness) is now complete at Gazprom Neft’s Moscow Refinery — specialist machinery having been used to dismantle five process facilities from the 1960s. These facilities have been replaced with a cutting-edge “Euro+” refining complex, improving efficiency at the Moscow Refinery and further reducing its environmental impacts. The modernisation of the Moscow Refinery — being undertaken by Gazprom Neft since 2011 — has seen 80% of the plant upgraded, resulting in a 75% reduction in its overall environmental impacts.
The Euro+ facility went into operation in July 2020. The complex’s cutting-edge technology handles the entire production cycle, from oil treatment to fuel output — thanks to which, previous-generation facilities (the plant’s oil treatment, primary refining, secondary distillation and high-octane gasoline-component production units) have been abandoned. All of these have been dismantled in compliance with all requirements, with dismantling undertaken on the basis of a positive industrial safety assessment registered with Rostechnadzor.
“One of the strategic objectives of the Moscow Refinery’s modernisation programme, initiated by the company 10 years ago, has been the radical renovation and upgrading of production facilities, directed at improving the plant’s environmental performance and technological processes. Thanks to this work the Moscow Refinery is now rightly seen as one of the most cutting-edge refineries in Russia, with reliable production and control systems guaranteeing production in line with the city’s fuel requirements. Environmental solutions are always front of mind: thanks to innovative technologies the plant has, already, delivered a fourfold reduction in its environmental impacts, and we are continuing our work here. In collaboration with leading global companies we have begun construction of a deep refining complex whose high-tech solutions will deliver higher volumes of much-in-demand fuel without increasing refining volumes.”
Anatoly Cherner Deputy Chairman of the Management Board, Gazprom Neft
Dismantling works were launched by Alexander Prokhorov, Head of Department for Investment and Industrial Policy, Moscow City Government, in December 2020.
“The Moscow Refinery is one of the most important in the country in terms of refining volumes, and is an important part of the capital’s urban infrastructure. But this plant’s example demonstrates that industry moving over to responsible, ‘green’ production isn’t just a demand of our times. The state-of-the-art technologies deployed at the Euro+ complex are making it possible to significantly increase production capacity while reducing environmental impacts — gasoline production is up 15%, diesel 40% and jet fuel 100%. Added to which, the digital solutions deployed are guaranteeing the safety and reliability of the plant’s operations.”
Alexander Prokhorov Head of Department for Investment and Industrial Policy, Moscow City Government
Gazprom Neft is undertaking a major programme to modernise its Moscow and Omsk Refineries, involving total investment of more than RUB700 billion by 2025. The first stage of this modernisation has involved the construction and reconstruction of key technological facilities, allowing the complete transition to the production of Euro-5 fuels, significantly improving energy efficiency and environmental friendliness in production. The implementation of the second phase of this modernisation programme is now ongoing, as a result of which the refining depth (“conversion factor”) and light product yield are expected to match the highest international standards.
