Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) has commissioned the country’s largest crude distillation unit with a refining capacity of 264,000 barrels per day at Mina Abdullah Refinery.

Work is currently under way on 12 new process units from five licensors, inter-refinery transfer lines and interconnecting pipe rack.

Petrofac, a specialist in the design, build and maintenance of energy infrastructure, is leading a joint venture partnership with Samsung Engineering Company and CB&I Nederland (now McDermott International).

The crude column is the largest single equipment transported and erected, being approximately 75 m long by 13 m wide/high and weighing 900 tonnes.

On completion, the project will increase processing capacity and enable the production of a new generation of ultra-low sulphur fuel products.

Prashant Bokil, the JV Project Director, said: “The successful operation of the CDU is very much the gateway to this important project for Kuwait’s refining industry. Well done to everyone involved, the team has achieved this major milestone despite the many recent operational challenges due to the pandemic.”

At the peak of activity, more than 15,000 people were working onsite. It has also entailed more than 125 cranes and over 1,600 separate items of construction machinery and equipment.