New time reckoning and its modern history began for the Komsomolsk Oil Refinery ten years ago. Just then, the management of the NK-Rosneft JSC approved the program of profound modernization of the Komsomolsk Oil Refinery industrial facilities. As a result of that decision, today the refinery has become factually a new enterprise. Development of new technologies permitted in advance, before the introduction of new technical regulations, to master in production of the oil products which meet the future environmental requirements of Euro-3 and Euro-4. And nowadays, the reconstruction keeps going. What will be the final outcome and how will it influence the further development of the fuel and power generating sector of the Russian Far East? This is the topic we are discussing with Vladimir Milyokhin, Director General of the RN-Komsomolsk Oil Refinery.

- Vladimir Vladimirovich, the year 2009 has become a not very simple time for the majority of the enterprises of our region. What is your assessment of the current situation at the Komsomolsk Oil Refinery?
- The situation at the refinery is stable and the following concrete examples speak for this statement. The economic indexes of the Company’s operation during the first quarter of this year have considerably improved in comparison with the same period of the year 2008. Last year, during the given period we processed 1 million 888 thousand tons of oil and during the first three months of this year we have already processed 1 million 993 thousand tons.
- What is the reason of such improvement ?
- Last year we accomplished big reconstruction of electrical desalting plant - AVT-2 and increased its industrial capacity up to 2.5 million tons per year. Also new power saving technologies was introduced. We have begun reconstruction of the electrical desalting plant -AVT-5. Till the end of this year we will increase its production capacity up to 5.5 million tons of oil. So, since the next year we will be able to process up to 8 million tons of oil yearly, while in 2008 we could process only 7.3 million tons.
- What are the nearest plans for the future renovation of the Refinery? Does the Company tend to make changes in the initial version of the business plan taking into account the world financial crisis?
- NK-Rosneft JSC is one of few Russian companies which despite the unfavorable economic situation managed not only to preserve its investment projects but even to increase their volume in comparison with the previous year. With all this going on, NK-Rosneft JSC pays special attention to the development of its oil processing enterprises. Let me remind that the Company runs seven major oil refineries in the country. This is why all the plans for Komsomolsk Refinery renovation are still in power. As of today, we keep reconstruction of the catalytical reforming unit which will permit us to produce Euro standard gasoline. We already produce Euro-3 gas. In order to put Euro-4 and Euro-5 gasoline on the market, it is necessary to built block of preliminary fractionating and an addition set of isomerization similar to the one we have already installed at the refinery. This is a new item in our business plan but we are not able to cope without it. Presently, the production capacity of the reforming considerably exceeds the amount of isomerizates needed for bringing the quality of the fuels to Euro-4 and Euro-5 standards. This is why we are currently considering installation of a new isomerization unit which should be put into operation in 2011, when the technical order for Euro standards will come into effect.
- Vladimir Vladimirovich and what can you say about construction of the unit of delayed cocking and of the hydrocracking facility?
- We are close to accomplish construction the unit of delayed cocking. There was a delay coused by the shortage of highly qualified labor force. But since today the number of new construction projects has diminished in the area the subcontractors are very open for cooperation with us. At this stage, we are planning to attract approximately 100 riggers from the Amursky Ship Building Yard. If we need additional labor we will invite the Khabarovsk companies. The new production facility will be put into operation in October 2009. As for hydrocracking unit development we have signed an agreement with the Saint-Petersburg Institute of Scientific Engineering to design all working documentation of the project. The design of the project will be developed by this December, and construction process will begin in early 2010.
- Construction of new industrial facilities demands purchase of new high quality equipment which meets the requirement of the industrial and environmental safety. What are the main suppliers of the Komsomolsk Refinery?
- We purchase mostly domestically made equipment. This completely meets Company’s politics. We buy everything that they manage to manufacture well in Russia. For instance: heat exchangers, pipes, some types of pumps. Of course there are some unique pumps without which we cannot arrange safe production process. But unfortunately, they are not manufactured in Russia. For instance this concerns powerful 630 kilowatt engines or regulating valves. We have to import such devices. But we offer advantages to the domestic producers. This is more convenient in terms of maintenance. If needed any spare parts or repair works can be provide much quicker and cheaper.
- According to the results of the year 2008, Komsomolsk Refinery was marked off with two important awards: with the prize in a contest of the industrial organizations for the activities focused on labor protection. It also was recognized the first in the environmental and labor protection ratings conducted among all the subsidiaries of NK-Rosneft JSC.
- For our body these victories were undoubtedly very important, and once again prove high professionalism and reliability of the enterprise. Since NK-Rosneft JSC is one of the world leading companies it makes its subsidiaries to meet international requirements in the fields of industrial and environmental safety, and labor protection. Certainly, we cannot say that this victory is a result of only one-year efforts. On a daily basis we conduct activities focused on decrease of man-caused impact on the nature. As of today, we have two special tracking stations researching condition of the environment. Tests which are being made every 15 minutes indicate that the environmental indexes around the refinery are normal. During the last several years, we have factually eliminated professional trauma and diseases. So, in other word, reconstruction of the oil refinery permitted us not only to increase considerably production capacity but also, to make the manufacturing process safer for our employees and population of Komsomolsk.