Honeywell, a global technology leader, has won a contract to provide process technology and advanced automation controls to Iraq's Karbala refinery.

The refinery is now under construction in Karbala Province, about 120 kilometres south of Baghdad.

The grassroots refinery will use refining processes from Honeywell UOP and automation controls from Honeywell Process Solutions (HPS) to allow Iraq's State Company of Oil Projects' (SCOP) Karbala refinery to maximize production of fuel and other products that will help offset the more than 350,000 barrels per day of refined products the country currently imports.

These technologies will also help meet growing domestic demand with products meeting international standards equivalent to Euro V fuel standards.

Start-up of the 140,000 barrel-per-day refinery is expected in 2020.

"The Honeywell solution combines UOP's deep process knowledge with HPS's expertise in plant automation to make the refinery run at the top of its capability," said Mike Millard, vice president and general manager of Honeywell UOP's Process Technology and Equipment business.

"The integration of process technology with a controls solution enables the Karbala refinery to make more gasoline, diesel, fuel oil, jet fuel, liquefied petroleum gas and asphalt, and make it more efficiently."

"Honeywell has a great track record of successful projects implemented in Iraq," said Pieter Krynauw, vice president and general manager of HPS' Projects and Automation Solutions business.

"When we combine UOP process technology with the HPS automation and controls, refineries will be able to reach peak performance faster and lower the total cost of ownership while getting the best return of investment for the project lifecycle." – TradeArabia News Service