Suriname refinery expansion advances

April 11, 2014
The construction phase is progressing for a major expansion and efficiency project to double crude capacity at the Tout Lui Faut refining complex about 12 miles south of Suriname’s capital city of Paramaribo.

The construction phase is progressing for a major expansion and efficiency project to double crude capacity at the Tout Lui Faut refining complex about 12 miles south of Suriname’s capital city of Paramaribo (OGJ Online, Sept. 9, 2009).

Precommissioning preparations have now been completed to start up some of the new systems related to the expansion, according to Suriname state oil firm Staatsolie.

In a series of sessions during February and March, the construction, commissioning, and startup and refining operations divisions established plans to complete additional project milestones, including the final powering of a substation as well as the start-ups of cool water pumps and air compressors at the site, Staatsolie said.

The deadline for meeting these last project milestones is May 15, according to the company.

Once completed, Staatsolie’s expansion project—which began in February 2012 and was designed to reduce the country’s dependence on imported fuel products—will more than double the refinery’s capacity to 15,000 b/d from a current 7,000 b/d to produce high-quality diesel, gasoline, and fuel oil (OGJ Online, July 28, 2011).

Most recently, Staatsolie let a contract to Honeywell for a manufacturing execution system at the Tout Lui Faut plant, at which time Staatsolie said the expanded refinery would be commissioned in October (OGJ Online, Jan. 21, 2014).