Ministry of Oil Announces Karbala Refinery Cracker Unit Operation to Resolve Gasoline Crisis and Boost Supply

The Ministry of Oil announced on Tuesday the impending resolution of the gasoline crisis across Baghdad and other governorates, signaling the gradual commissioning of the fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit at the Karbala refinery. This unit is expected to produce approximately 5 million liters of gasoline daily when fully operational. Saliem Al-Rekabi, the official spokesperson for the Ministry, confirmed that the engineering and technical components of the unit have been fully completed. Technical staff and engineers at the site have commenced the programmed gradual operation phases, following a precise timetable designed to ensure equipment safety and a secure, gradual ramp-up to full production. Al-Rekabi explained that the operational plan typically requires about three months. During this period, calculated and specific quantities of petroleum products will be progressively pumped before transitioning to the sequential activation of other sections and components, leading to the unit's complete readiness and final operation. Al-Rekabi noted that the unit's total production capacity is approximately 55,000 barrels per day. This substantial operational capacity is anticipated to have a direct and tangible impact on the domestic supply of fuel. Engineering and economic forecasts indicate that, once it reaches maximum capacity, the unit will yield around 5 million liters per day of high-octane gasoline, a product in high demand in the local market. Furthermore, it will provide a significant quantity approaching 7 million liters per day of hydrotreated, low-sulfur gas oil, which complies with international environmental specifications. In parallel efforts, Al-Rekabi disclosed the Ministry's initiatives to enhance supplies. These include the addition of approximately 3 million liters per day of unhydrogenated gas oil, directly extracted from the Al-Shaibah refinery, which will raise the total available quantities of this vital material to about 10 million liters daily. Additionally, strategic production of approximately 400 tons per day of cooking gas is being secured to cover increasing household and industrial needs. The Ministry spokesperson affirmed that the activation of these production capacities will contribute to a gradual reduction in imported premium gasoline. This move aims to help the country achieve the desired self-sufficiency in various essential petroleum products. In a related context concerning the expansion of the national refining base, Al-Rekabi highlighted that the Ministry of Oil has not limited its efforts to the Karbala refinery alone. It has adopted a comprehensive package of long-term strategic plans and projects to develop and rehabilitate several other oil refineries across all governorates. Among these is a fully integrated strategic project to develop the Diwaniyah refinery by establishing and adding a specialized refining unit with a capacity of up to 70,000 barrels per day, coupled with modern and advanced hydrotreating units to improve gasoline quality. Moreover, programs and projects are being launched to develop the Maysan refinery, which also includes adding a new refining unit with a capacity of 70,000 barrels per day. Similar developmental programs are being implemented to update and enhance the efficiency of existing national refineries, with the aim of maximizing refining capacities, improving the quality of petroleum products offered in the markets, and boosting the Ministry's operational ability to efficiently meet the growing local market demands, thereby ensuring the stability of the country's energy sector.