Austrian Pörner, Heydar Aliyev Refinery sign EPCM contract for Biturox plant

Austrian engineering company Pörner and the Heydar Aliyev Refinery have signed an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction Management contract for a Biturox plant in Baku. The plant, for the production of quality bitumen, is part of a comprehensive modernization project and replaces the Biturox plant that Pörner delivered to Azerneftyag in 1995. The contract was signed by Pörner Managing Director Andreas Pörner and Heydar Aliyev Refinery director Elman Ismayilov. Speaking at the signing ceremony, SOCAR vice president Tofig Gahramanov said the project would contribute to improving the environment in Baku. Andreas Pörner hailed his company`s cooperation with SOCAR. For the Biturox plant, Pörner provides the license, basic engineering, pilot tests — carried out in the Pörner research facility, key equipment and commissioning support. The previous Biturox plant produced bitumen successfully for 20 years. The establishment of a new plant in the Heydar Aliyev Refinery outside the urban area, was a result of the closing of the refinery site in the heart of Baku. Using the latest off-gas treatment system, and designed for an annual capacity of 400,000 tons, this plant will meet the high demand for quality bitumen for the further expansion of the road network of Azerbaijan. The Heydar Aliyev Baku Oil Refinery is located near the capital Baku and is currently undergoing extensive modernization. The annual processing capacity will increase from six million tons to seven and a half million tons. All grades of fuel produced, will comply with Euro 5 standards and are quality feed materials for the Azerkimya downstream plant, such as ethylene, propylene and butylene.