The Syrian Petroleum Company (SPC) has unveiled projects to expand the capabilities of the refining sector in Syria through the construction of two new refineries in the countryside of Homs and Deir Ezzor province, in parallel with the actual preparations for the suspension of the Banias refinery for four consecutive months with the aim of carrying out comprehensive rehabilitation works and raising its production capacity.

The director of the refining and chemical company at the Syrian Petroleum Company, Tariq Shalash Al-Abdullah, confirmed in press statements on the sidelines of his participation in the "Serpetro" exhibition in the capital, Damascus, that the company is working on a package of new and vital projects in the refinery sector, including the construction of a refinery in the Al-Farqalus area in the countryside of Homs, and another in Deir Ezzor, in addition to the rehabilitation of the coastal Banias refinery.

Al-Abdullah explained that the Banias refinery will stop working for four months, provided that this will be officially announced after about 20 days, specifically by the end of July or the beginning of next August, pointing out that the goal is to raise its production capacity to reach 130,000 barrels per day, compared to about 90,000 barrels per day at the moment.

Regarding the impact of this suspension on the needs of the local market, Al-Abdullah explained that the company has developed a pre-planned and tight plan for imports with the aim of filling the shortage and securing oil derivatives.

Maintenance with Local Cadres and the Challenges of International Sanctions

Al-Abdullah explained that the rehabilitation of refineries usually requires specialized foreign companies, but the current maintenance work will be carried out entirely with the efforts of local cadres and expertise, pointing out that the refining sector is one of the most complex oil sectors.

Regarding the difficulties associated with securing spare parts for machines due to the sanctions imposed on Syria, he pointed out that the challenges are still "very great", as global companies such as Siemens are still committed to the boycott decision, stressing that attempts to find alternative solutions are ongoing and not impossible.

With regard to production losses, Al-Abdullah revealed that the percentage of waste in crude oil due to the aging of machinery is about 4%, which is not a bad indicator in light of the current focus on meeting the needs of the market.

Regarding the new projects, Al-Abdullah pointed out that the refinery to be built in the Al-Farqlus area of Homs countryside will operate with a huge production capacity of 200,000 barrels per day, describing it as a "strategic" refinery that will contribute to securing local consumption with the possibility of exporting later.

He added that the company has prepared the technical terms and specifications books and announced them pending the submission of bids, as the announcement is scheduled to be closed at the end of next August to choose the most suitable among the international or Arab companies, while maintaining the operation of the current Homs refinery until the completion of the project.

The Deir Ezzor Plan and the Reflection of the Czech Unity

In Deir Ezzor province, the director of the refining company revealed that there is a parallel plan to establish a refinery with a production capacity of 70,000 barrels per day, expecting its implementation to be faster than the new Homs refinery, and its terms of reference will be announced soon.

Regarding the reflection of the operation of the Czech unit in the current Homs refinery, Al-Abdullah explained that its operation with a capacity of 30,000 barrels per day contributed to raising the existing production by 7%, revealing that the refinery will later witness the introduction of a new atmospheric distillation unit with a capacity of 15,000 barrels per day of crude oil.