SOCAR's Heydar Aliyev Oil Refinery Signs License And Design Agreements With Axens For The Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit

On January 17, SOCAR HQ held a ceremony to sign licensing and design agreements for the Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) unit between the Heydar Aliyev Oil Refinery (HAOR) and the French company Axens as part of the HAOR Modernization and Reconstruction Project. The ceremony was attended by SOCAR President Rovnag Abdullayev, Axens CEO Jean Sentenac and other officials.

A signing ceremony was eventually held with the parties participating. The documents were signed by Bakhtiyar Mammadov, SOCAR HAOR Director and Fabien Lundy, Axens Process Licensing Global Commercial Director. It is worth noting that SOCAR and Axens have a long-term co-operation. At present, the Diesel Hydrotreatment, Gasoline Hydrotreatment and C4 (butane-butylene) hydrogenation units as part of the Heydar Aliyev Oil Refinery Reconstruction Project, as well as the C3 (propane-propylene) hydrogenation unit as part of the reconstruction works carried out at Azerkimya PU, the naphtha hydrotreatment, diesel hydrotreatment and kerosene hydrotreatment units at the STAR refinery built in Turkey are licensed by Axens.

The cooperation between SOCAR and Axens encompasses the training of engineers either in IFP School or in Axens in order to contribute to the successful implementation of the Heydar Aliyev Oil Refinery modernization projects including the operation of the licensed process units. These trainings aims also at developing skills in energy efficiency and sustainability. Some time ago, the AR-GE Research Centre of SOCAR Turkey, Axens and IFPEN started jointly to expand AR-GE Research capabilities, and identify subjects of common interest.