Two reactors were successfully erected at the construction site, which are part of the equipment needed for the coking process. Both reactors have a height of 30 meters and weigh over 200 tonnes, and their construction was a building challenge of its own kind. So far works have included successfully building the first refinery column for the bottom of the barrel facility – a technological unit (DA-5308) and other 11 units of special equipment. Currently the building of a coke oven is in its final stage, which is another key item in the Bottom of the Barrel project. The oven capacity will be more than 20 MW. Along with these works, there is a series of other construction and installation tasks at the construction site. The activities are performed in accordance with legislation of the Republic of Serbia and observing the highest standards of environmental protection and safety at work. At times, the construction site at Pančevo Refinery has employed 700 workers, and as the scope of work of the investment project broadens, the number of engineers and workers at the site will increase. The Bottom of the Barrel project continues the trend of modernization of the Pančevo Refinery in order to provide high quality fuels for the Serbian and regional market. This project, valued at over 300 Million EUR, is one of the biggest investment projects in Serbia, and the building of new facilities will begin in the third quarter of 2019. Their operation will ensure optimal use of the Refinery’s capacities and increased production of high quality petrol, diesel fuel and liquid petroleum gas, as well as the beginning of coke production, a product that is currently imported into Serbia. The principal project designer and project manager is the international company CB&I. The advantage in the construction was given to domestic contractors, and completion of the facilities in the Refinery will provide new job opportunities. By implementing this project, NIS continues investing in improving environmental protection, since the new facilities will make it possible to cease production of fuel oil with a high content of sulphur, which will enable Serbia to meet its international commitments in the restriction of fuels with a high content of sulphur. Further, the refinery’s energy efficiency will be improved, emission of powdery substances decreased and safety at work improved. Regarding the project implementation in the Pančevo Refinery, Vladimir Gagić, Director of the Refining Block said: “The modernization of NIS’s processing capacities is one of the strategic priorities in our company. Through the implementation of the Bottom of the Barrel project, the Pančevo Refinery will become one of the most modern in Eastern Europe, and the bottom of the barrel will be increased from 86 to 99.2% which is in line with the best refineries in the world. The construction of new facilities will mean higher quantities of high quality oil derivatives in domestic production and, no less important, numerous ecological aspects of the project that will significantly improve environmental protection, which is one of NIS’s permanent priorities.” Olivie Buazar, project manager for the Bottom of the Barrel project said: “The implementation of capital projects such as the Bottom of the Barrel is very complex and brings with it various challenges. So far, we have around 1.3 million working hours, and the construction site, on a field similar in area to two football pitches, employs around 700 workers, eight cranes, tens of trucks and operating machines. This project phase has required a lot of effort from all participants as well as intensive coordination, and works so far show that we are in a good place, with reason to be satisfied with the implementation.”
