Omsk, Russia — The Omsk refinery, Russia’s largest crude processing facility by production, has reported a 4% increase in crude oil processing between January and September compared to the same period last year. This information comes from Gazprom, the owner of the refinery through its oil subsidiary, Gazprom Neft.
Located 2,700 kilometers (1,700 miles) east of Moscow, the Omsk refinery plays a crucial role in Russia’s energy landscape. In addition to raising its overall crude processing, the facility increased its supply of gasoline to the domestic market by 5% and boosted diesel supply by 10%, as detailed in a statement from the refinery, which was cited by Reuters.
In 2022, the Omsk refinery accounted for nearly 8% of all crude oil refining in Russia, processing approximately 425,600 barrels per day (bpd). While the Omsk refinery has reported increased production, many other refineries across Russia, particularly in the southwest, have experienced extensive maintenance and operational halts, primarily due to ongoing drone attacks from Ukraine this year.
Scheduled maintenance has further exacerbated the situation, leading to a rise in idle refining capacity. According to estimates released earlier this week, Russia has increased the expected refining capacity that will remain offline this month by 67% compared to previous projections. This increase is largely due to postponed maintenance at Rosneft’s Novokuibyshevsk Refinery and additional maintenance activities at a unit of Lukoil’s NORSI refinery.
Moreover, Rosneft’s refinery in Tuapse, located on the Black Sea, has reportedly halted crude processing since October 1 due to low refining margins, as confirmed by industry sources.
In addition to seasonal maintenance, the overall crude oil refining capacity in Russia has seen increased idle units this year, attributed in part to Ukrainian drone strikes targeting Russian oil and energy infrastructure. These attacks have become increasingly common, with drones being the primary weapon used in these operations.
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