Honeywell tech to help boost Pakistan output


Pakistan is set to increase its diesel and base oil output helped by the US' Honeywell technology.

Honeywell technology

Honeywell technology will help NRL's production Image: Honeywell UOP

Pakistan's National Refinery Limited (NRL) has turned to Honeywell UOP to assist in providing refining technology for a new plant scheduled to come onstream in 2016.  The facility, in Karangi (formerly Karachi will produce 40,000b/d of diesel and 4,500b/d of base oil for lubes production.

Honewell's input will be through use of its Uniflex™ technology, which helps in processing the heaviest elements of crude, known as 'bottom of the barrel' or vacuum residue.  Uniflex allows the residue to be converted into vehicle fuels with a minimum of by-products being created.

NRL currently operates three refineries and a petrochemical plant in Pakistan, including the country's only lube production facility.  Overall the company processes close to 2.5m tons of crude annually.