29-07-2016

Bilfinger to provide process control technology for Esfahan refinery upgrade

Now that most of the economic sanctions against Iran have been lifted, the country has become an interesting partner for German industry. Bilfinger has now secured its first order there: one of Iran’s largest refineries is being upgraded and Bilfinger is delivering the entire process control system for the project.

The system will be designed, built and programmed in Germany. Following testing and customer acceptance, it will be shipped to Iran. The order has a volume of several million euros, though the parties agreed not to disclose the exact amount. The contract was signed during a visit of the Iranian delegation to Bilfinger headquarters in Mannheim.

“Our engineering services made in Germany are an international seal of quality. I am delighted that we will be able to contribute our quality and reliability to the ambitious project in Iran”, says Tom Blades, CEO at Bilfinger SE. “Iran has a great deal of pent up demand when it comes to the modernization of its industrial facilities and Bilfinger can make a contribution here in cooperation with Iranian companies.”

The refinery in the city of Esfahan is operated by the Esfahan Oil Refining Company (EORC). It went into operation in 1979 and has a processing capacity of up to 370,000 barrels per day. The refinery will be upgraded through the addition of a so-called Diesel Hydro Treatment plant which will be used to produce environmental friendly diesel in accordance with the Euro 5 norm.

Iranian company Nargan, which was commissioned with the engineering and procurement of the plant, selected Bilfinger as supplier for the process technology including the safety systems.

The order volume does not include commissioning of the plant, which Bilfinger will carry out in the country. In addition to Bilfinger’s Engineering Solutions division, other renowned German companies have also been selected as suppliers for this project.