Construction of a continuous catalytic regeneration (CCR) unit at the Tehran Oil Refinery (Tondgouyan Refinery) will commence in March, in a bid to increase the octane rating of gasoline, the refinery’s head of environment announced Wednesday.
Technical and environmental assessments have been completed, and the project will begin as soon as relevant environmental permits are granted, Shana news agency quoted Hossein Ghoreishi as saying. Implementation of the project will take 36 months, and will be completed in 2018.
Tondgouyan Refinery, with a capacity of 250,000 barrels per day, is currently producing high quality gasoline conforming to Euro-4 standards. The diesel produced at the refinery also conforms to Euro-5 standards.
Sulfur production at the refinery has reached 150 tons a day from the previous 50 tons. The sulfur is then converted into granule.
Although it is reported that around a third of domestically produced gasoline and diesel meets Euro-4 and Euro-5 standards, Iran’s severe air pollution is blamed by many on domestically produced gasoline, for having low quality.
The use of nationally refined gasoline has increased dramatically over the last three years as sanctions imposed by the United States and European Union over Iran’s nuclear program have cut imports of refined fuels.
Iran and the P5+1 group (five permanent members of the UN Security Council, namely United States, Russia, China, United Kingdom, and France, plus Germany) have been holding marathon talks over the past year to thrash out a mutually acceptable comprehensive deal.
