31st Jul 2006 10:58
Total S.A.31 July 2006 DHC Startup Operations Begin at the Normandy Refinery Paris, July 31, 2006 - Total announces the startup today of the hydrogenproduction unit (Steam Methane Reformer - SMR), at the Normandy refinery near LeHavre. This startup is the first step in the commissioning of the new distillatehydrocracker (DHC) project. Up to 1,000 people a day worked onsite during the construction phase, with theproject completed on time and on budget in 26 months at a cost of around €550million. The next steps consist of bringing the sulfur recovery units on streamin August then commissioning the hydrocracker, which will be gradually ramped upto reach full product availability at end-September. The units convert heavy fractions of petroleum into ultra low sulfurdistillates, such as automotive diesel and kerosene, to reduce deficits inEurope. They will have an annual production capacity of 1.3 million metric tonsof sulfur-free automotive diesel, 200,000 metric tons of sulfur-free kerosene,500,000 metric tons of high quality bases for lubricants and specialty fluids,and 400,000 metric tons of naphtha feedstock for petrochemicals. ****** Total is one of the world's major oil and gas groups, with activities in morethan 130 countries. Its 95,000 employees put their expertise to work in everypart of the industry - exploration and production of oil and natural gas,refining and marketing, gas trading end electricity. Total is working to keepthe world supplied with energy, both today and tomorrow. The Group is also afirst rank player in chemicals, www.total.com This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
TTA.L