Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- A GDS unit has been launched at the Ferghana refinery, which will make it possible to produce diesel fuel of Euro-4 and Euro-5 standards.

Within the framework of the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. 67, a phased implementation of the investment project "Modernization and reconstruction of the Ferghana oil refinery" is being carried out at the Ferghana refinery.

According to the press service of the Ministry of Energy, in the period 2020-2023, a phased implementation of the hydrocracking process (a method of obtaining fuel) and the launch of production of AI-92 motor gasoline, as well as Euro-5 diesel fuel, are envisaged at the Ferghana refinery.

The start of production of a line of Euro 4 and Euro 5 products from 5 November 2020, will mark the completion of the first stage of the plant modernization, for a total amount of US$300 million.

As part of the project, a contract was signed with the French company Axens for the manufacture and supply of a catalyst in order to replace the existing catalyst of the GDS unit, which was commissioned in 1999, with a more modern and highly efficient one. The unit was designed and tied to the plant facilities by the Toyo Engineering Corporation (Japan), its design capacity is 1,700,000 tons / year.

The changes made will improve the quality of Euro 2 diesel fuel sold by the plant to meet Euro 4 and Euro 5 standards, contributing to the reduction of sulfur emissions into the atmosphere, expanding export opportunities and increasing the attractiveness of tolling operations.

Among the main advantages of Euro 4 and Euro 5 diesel fuel, which reduce vehicle wear, are the following:

- improvement of the fuel combustion process and reduction of its consumption;

- reduction of noise, vibration and corrosion rate;

- facilitation of starting the engine.

In addition, the Ferghana Refinery will begin mass production of winter diesel fuel, which has not been previously produced and purchased abroad. Thus, the plant’s specialists carried out a whole cycle of laboratory research, industrial testing and production of a new low-solidifying winter fuel of the DTZ-2 brand.

As a result, winter diesel fuel with a pour point no higher than -25 ° C and a maximum filterability temperature of no higher than -18 ° C will become available to the mass consumer on the petroleum product trade exchange.

It should be noted that, in addition to low-solidification properties, real diesel fuel has improved operational properties, which will provide high power and efficiency of the engine, easy pumping through the fuel line and ease of cold start.

The work on the production of new demanded, high-quality and environmentally friendly types of oil products continues.