Bashneft launched first hydrocracking catalyst production in Russia

Bashneft (part of Rosneft Oil Company) launched the first hydrocracking catalyst production in Russia at its own specialized RN-Kat plant in Sterlitamak. This will increase the production of high-quality Euro-5 motor fuels and reduce the dependence of the Russian oil refining industry on foreign products.

The ceremonial launch took place as part of the opening ceremony of the 30th anniversary “Gas. Oil. Technologies - 2022" International Exhibition-Forum in Ufa. The permission to start production was given by Andrey Nazarov, Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Bashkortostan.

“The oil and gas and chemical industries are coping with their tasks, despite the sanctions of Western countries and other challenges. Oil refining has also reached pre-pandemic levels and is showing growth. The complex was actively working on import substitution, many industries were opened that produce domestic equipment and materials.” Andrey Nazarov said.

Andrey Lazeev, General Director of PJSOC Bashneft, noted that 95% of oil refining processes are catalytic. For this reason, the reliability of supplies of high-quality catalysts for oil refining processes is a strategic issue for ensuring the technological sustainability of the operation of the entire сompany and the Russian oil refining sector as a whole.

A few years ago, the dependence on certain types of imported Russian-processed catalysts was up to 100%. Now, this indicator has decreased several times and continues to give way to Russian developments.

In 2021, RN-Kat specialists made a technological breakthrough and developed their own technology for the production of a hydrocracking catalyst.

In 2021, the oil refining unit of Rosneft Oil Company completely switched to a hydrotreating catalyst manufactured by RN-Kat. This is the first catalyst for hydrotreating diesel fractions for the Russian oil refining industry, capable of completely replacing foreign analogs of hydrotreating catalysts for producing Euro-5 diesel fuel with an ultra-low sulfur content of less than 10 ppm.