OREANDA-NEWS. July 25, 2011. In July this year, the Omsk Oil Refinery owned by Gazprom Neft began production of Super Euro-98 petrol, which meets the requirements of ecological class 5. Thiswasmadepossibleby the use of benzene isomerate in the production process. This is a high-octane component of modern motor fuel with zero sulphur content, aromatic and unsaturated hydrocarbons.Russia’s and Europe’s largest Isomalk-2 installation, which produces the isomerate, was commissioned by the Omsk facility in October 2010. To date, the plant has produced more than 151 thousand tonnes of this component.

Ecological class 5 fuelis distinguished by its ultralow sulphur and benzol content, and its use in car engines significantly reduces the amount of harmful emissions into the atmosphere.The sulphur content of class 5 Super Euro-98 fuel is five times lower than fuel of the preceding ecological class.

“One of the strategic goals facing the company (as apart of the modernisation of our processing assets) is to improve the quality of our fuels to meet international standards. In accordance with the deadlines defined by technical regulations, we need to complete this modernisation programme by 2015, but I am convinced that the Omsk Refinery is capable of meeting the requirements much earlier”, declared Anatoly Cherner, Gazprom Neft’s Deputy General Director for logistics, processing and marketing.

In March this year, the Omsk Refinery began production of ecological class 4 petrol. Following the commissioning of the Diesel Hydrotreatment and Benzene Catalytic Cracking complex scheduled for 2012, all motor fuels produced at the facility will fully comply with the requirements of ecological classes 4 and 5.