The Head of Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC), Farhat Bengdara said that the installation of the South Oil Refinery will begin within 36 months.
Bengdara added that the capacity amounts to 30,000 barrels from the Sharara field, according to a video recording broadcast by the NOC.
He indicated that he discussed with the American Honeywell-UOP consortium “increasing the production of the Zawiya refinery, solutions for the Ras Lanuf refinery, and evaluating the work of the rest of the refineries.” Bengdara pointed out that a memorandum was signed in this regard.
On Sunday, the Zallaf Libya Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Company and the US’ Honeywell-UOP signed the first contracts for the construction of the South oil refinery.
The signing ceremony was held at Zallaf’s headquarters, in the presence of the Chairman and members of the Management Committee, and the Regional Manager of Honeywell-UOP, Muhammad Al-Muheisen.
Zallaf said in a statement that the contract stipulates that “Honeywell – UOP will carry out the initial engineering works for the refining units, and grant technical licenses to the licensed units.”
The project consists of two phases: the first being the (FEED) phase, for which the Honeywell – UOP project was signed.
Moreover, the second phase will be negotiated in another contract, in order to carry out installation works, and final tests for the refinery. This will be supervised by Honeywell at a later date.
“This step comes as part of the new vision adopted by the NOC, and the promises made by its Chairman to expedite the establishment of the South Refinery, and assist in the development of the southern region,” the statement concluded.
On Friday, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) published a report, stating that Halliburton and Honeywell International Inc. are hammering out $1.4 billion dollars worth of deals, to develop an oil field and refinery with the NOC of Libya.