Iraq announced that its Karbala refinery is now operating at full capacity reaching 140,000 barrels per day (bbl/d), following its trial operation carried out on September 11, 2023.

Iraq’s Ministry of Oil has completed the necessary technical observations, inspections, and evaluations to ensure the smooth operation of the refinery as Hamid Younis, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Oil for Refining Affairs said.

“The last period represented the steps to complete the completion of technical observations, inspection, and evaluation, in preparation for operating and implementing the requirements of the production units,” said Hamid Younis, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Oil for Refining Affairs stressing, “Operating the refinery at its full operational production capacity 100% after operating a unit in coordination with the contracting companies.”.

Karbala refinery is the first of its kind in Iraq to produce high-octane gasoline, with an octane number of 96.

“The completion of the activities of operating the crushing unit with the catalyst, aims to produce high-octane gasoline,” said Younis, stressing the refinery’s contribution in covering a large portion of local consumption.

Early this month, the Parliamentary Oil, Gas, and Natural Resources Committee confirmed that the Karbala refinery will fill 80% of Iraq’s import needs after operating at full capacity.

Karbala oil refinery, located near Karbala province in Southern Iraq, began trial operations in September 2022. It includes 33 operational, service, and storage units, as well as a station for pumping oil products to external depots and gas filling stations. The refinery also includes a 200 MW power plant, 60 MW of which will contribute to Iraq’s national grid.

The US $6bn refinery, which was developed by ATCONZ and Invest International (Italy), is supplied with crude oil via a pipeline from the southern oil fields in Basra. Construction started in 2014.