Contract let for Lithuanian refinery upgrade

AB Mazeikiu Nafta, Mazeikiai District, Lithuania, let a contract to Foster Wheeler Italiana SPA, Milan, for a comprehensive modernization of its 263,000 b/d Mazeikiai refinery in northwest Lithuania.

June 14, 2006

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, June 14 -- AB Mazeikiu Nafta, Mazeikiai District, Lithuania, let a contract to Foster Wheeler Italiana SPA, Milan, for a comprehensive modernization of its 263,000 b/d Mazeikiai refinery in northwest Lithuania. The only refinery in the Baltic states, it is being upgraded to meet the European Union's "Auto-Oils V" specifications for the sulfur content of gasoline required by 2009.

Foster Wheeler will perform basic design, front-end engineering, detailed design, and procurement services. The project will boost capacity of the fluid catalytic cracking unit to 60,000 b/sd from 45,000 b/sd and revamp other facilities, including vacuum, vacuum gas oil hydrotreating, diesel-kerosene hydrodesulfurization, and amine and sulfur recovery units and all related utilities.

The project also includes installation of a vacuum flasher, refinery instrumentation, and modernization of all of the refinery's heaters.

Mazeikiu Nafta expects to complete the project in the fourth quarter.