(Energy Analytics Institute, Ian Silverman, 14.Jun.2018) – PDVSA announced its subsidiary PDV Mantenimiento oversaw the successful start up of the High Vacuum 3 (AV3) Plant at the Cardón Refinery located in the Paraguaná Peninsula in Western Venezuela.
Savings to PDVSA from the activation of the AV3 will amount to an estimated $55.5 million per month. Coupled with the start-up of the Number 3 Distillery Plant located in Amuay, the savings amount to an estimated $127.1 million per month related to the acquisition of vacuum distillate (VGO), a basic component to produce fuel, reported PDVSA in an official statement, citing PDV Mantenimiento Routine Maintenance Manager Rafael Camacho.
The AV3 start-up leverages processing of 23,000 barrels per day (b/d) of VGO, which is a load component to the Fluidized Catalytic Cracking (FCC) unit, reported PDVSA. The FCC is a vital process to produce fuel.
In Venezuela’s western Falcon state, Venezuela’s state oil entity PDVSA operates two refineries: Amuay, with a 645,000 barrel-a-day processing capacity and Cardón, with a 310,000 barrel-a-day capacity. In neighboring Zulia state, PDVSA operates the smaller Bajo Grande refinery, with a 16,000 barrel-a-day capacity.
Photo credit: PDVSA
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