PDVSA wraps turnaround at El Palito refinery

June 2, 2017
Petroleos de Venezuela SA (PDVSA) is in the process of restarting units shut down for regularly planned maintenance at its 140,000-b/d El Palito refinery near Puerto Cabello in Carabobo state.

Petroleos de Venezuela SA (PDVSA) is in the process of restarting units shut down for regularly planned maintenance at its 140,000-b/d El Palito refinery near Puerto Cabello in Carabobo state.

PDVSA initiated startup of the refinery’s catalytic reforming plant (PTR) and benzene-toulene-xylene (BTX) complex in late May following the conclusion of turnaround activities, which included preventative maintenance works to increase production of petroleum products at the specialized units, the operator said.

The company revealed no further details regarding either the scope of preventative maintenance projects executed nor the date on which the units were shuttered.

A timeframe for when the PTR and BTX units would return to normal operations was not disclosed.

The operator, however, did confirm the turnaround comes as part of PDVSA’s ongoing goal to transform a crude-exporting company to an exporter of high-quality finished products under the Golpe de Timon, a guide to the construction of socialism in Venezuela as outlined under the government of the late Hugo Chavez.

Contact Robert Brelsford at [email protected].