OREANDA-NEWS. The Gazprom Neft Moscow Oil Refinery has launched production of diesel fuel classified grade 5 under the Russian Federation Technical Regulations for the Quality of Motor Fuels. Production of grade 5 diesel fuel, which is substantially superior to lower-grade diesel fuels in terms of its environmental impact, has begun two and a half years earlier than the deadline established in the Technical Regulations. Beginning in June 2013, all diesel fuel that the Moscow Oil Refinery supplies to the Russian market will meet the Euro 5 standard. According to plans, the total volume of that fuel supplied in June will amount to 140,000 tons.

Production of Euro 5 diesel began after the reconstruction of the LCh-24-2000 diesel fuel hydrotreatment unit with a capacity of 2 million tons per year completed at the Moscow Oil Refinery. Implementation of that project involved replacing the main process equipment and commissioning a new hydrotreatment heater with a performance factor of 90 percent, which increases the time between repairs to four years. An additional hydrotreatment unit has been installed. The unit has helped reduce sulfur content in the fuel to 10 parts per million, which is 35 times less than in grade 3 fuel, which is at present approved for use in Russia. The Moscow Oil Refinery has been producing exclusively motor fuels of grade 4 and higher since April 2012.

“Gazprom Neft is actively modernizing its Moscow oil refinery and significantly raising the quality of the fuel it produces. Converting to the production of grade 5 petroleum products will allow us to provide consumers in the country’s central regions with diesel fuel that meets the highest standards, cut harmful emissions, and improve environmental conditions in major cities. We will soon expand the range of our higher grade fuels, starting with Euro 5 gasoline,” said Anatoly Cherner, Gazprom Neft Deputy CEO for Logistics, Processing and Sales.