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First hydrocracker section arrives at ExxonMobil refinery in Botlek

Published by , Editor - Hydrocarbon Engineering
Tanks and Terminals,


The first section of a new hydrocracker system arrived in Rotterdam on 25 October. The unit, a vacuum fractional distillation column, some 50 metres tall and 9 metres wide, was manufactured in Belgium. The column was brought on shore at the ExxonMobil refinery in Botlek (port number 4090).

ExxonMobil’s investment of over US$1 billion in a new hydrocracker system strengthens the leading position of its Rotterdam refinery within the European refining sector. The hydrocracker will be separating heavier products into cleaner, higher grade end products such as base oils for lubricants and ultra low sulfur diesel fuel. The Rotterdam refinery is already one of the most energy efficient refineries in Europe, and this investment will increase its energy efficiency even further – by a full 5%.

While the refinery has been producing low sulfur diesel fuel for some time already, the new hydrocracker will significantly expand its production capacity in this category. In addition, this will be the first time ExxonMobil’s patented hydrocracking technology will be used to produce EHC™ Group II base oil at a European facility. Base oil is the key ingredient for the production of high grade lubricating oils and greases. This allows the company to respond more effectively to the growing demand for cleaner transport fuels and to contribute to energy efficiency within the European transport sector. Besides constructing a new system and making adaptations to the existing hydrocracker unit, ExxonMobil will also be erecting six new lubricating oil tanks at the site.

The realisation of the new hydrocracker is also good news for local employment in Rotterdam’s port area. Every day, the refinery already offers work for some 650 employees, as well as a multitude of contractors and service providers. During the three year construction period, the site will create new jobs for another 600 people on average, with a peak of up to 1300 extra people in 2017. Once the new system has been taken into operation – probably in late 2018 – it will increase employment by another 40 structural positions or so, from 2019 on.

In addition to the refinery, Esso Nederland BV also has various chemical plants and a lubricating oil plant in the region. The company put fuels and lubricants on the market under the brand names Esso and Mobil. Its Rotterdam refinery started operations in 1959.

Read the article online at: https://www.tanksterminals.com/storage-tanks/28102016/first-hydrocracker-section-arrives-at-exxonmobil-refinery-in-botlek/

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