OREANDA-NEWS. April 05, 2010. Almaty has witnessed the 5th symposium on oil refining, petrochemistry and oil products, with the introduction of new technologies at Kazakhstan’s oil refineries serving as the main topic for discussion between experts. Kazakhstan launched the programme on modernization of three oil refineries in order to bring the quality of products to the Euro-4 and Euro-5 standards. Experts believe that the method of hydrogen cracking is the most effective technology for deep oil refining, since it corresponds to ecologic requirements.

Serik Baimukhanbetov, managing director for health, safety and the environment, “KazMunaiGas Exploration Production” JSC:

- This technology is effective both from the economic point of view, since the product is of high quality and from the ecological point of view, since all three oil refineries are situated within the city and the population of the city is affected.

The inventors of hydrogen cracking, the “Chevron” company is negotiating with the “KazMunaiGas” company on the introduction of this method and suggesting this technology during the modernization of Kazakhstan’s oil refineries.

Voitek Svinarski, senior technical consultant, Chevron:

- I believe that it is a very profitable project. Hydrogen cracking is a technology of the 21st century, because it needs less expenditure and is environmentally friendly. This process has a lot of advantages.

Hydrogen cracking is one of the most effective and economic technologies for deep oil refining and the leading plants of the world have been using this technology for a long time.