Essar Oil commissions isomerisation unit at Vadinar refinery

Essar Oil Ltd, a subsidiary of Essar Energy, on Thursday announced the successful commissioning of a new isomerisation unit at its Vadinar refinery. The isomerisation unit will help the refinery produce Euro IV grade petrol.

The 0.7 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) Isom unit is a key component of the Phase I expansion of the company's Vadinar refinery that will increase its capacity to 18 MMTPA (375,000 barrels per day).

Among the largest Isom units in the world, the commissioning of the unit was completed in just 32 days (as against an industry average of 50-55 days), without compromising on safety, the company said in a release.

''I am proud of my colleagues at the refinery. This achievement is testimony to their world-class expertise and demonstrates the concerted effort they are making to ensure that the expansion project is completed within schedule and budget,'' Naresh Nayyar, CEO of Essar Energy, said.

The Isom Unit (Penex-DIH) is licensed by UOP, a Honeywell company that is one of the world's leading licensors of technology for the petroleum refining industry.

''The Essar Oil team has done a fantastic job in preparing this unit for startup and subsequent commissioning. Though we don't keep records of startup times clocked by our customers, this is certainly one of the fastest ever achieved. Feed cut in just 32 days - after hydrogen was introduced in the unit - I am sure is a world record,'' Tom McCollough, UOP's startup specialist, said.