The Gazprom Neft Omsk Refinery delivers a consignment of needle coke to domestic manufacturers

A consignment of needle coke (a valuable raw material for the metallurgy, nuclear, chemicals and space industries) has been produced at the Gazprom Neft Omsk Refinery — this initial pilot batch having undergone prior testing before being despatched to a domestic client to form the blueprint for the first premium-quality electrodes in Russia to be produced from domestic raw materials. Commercial production of needle coke is expected to start at the Omsk Refinery in 2021 following the reconstruction of the delayed coking unit. This RUB2.5 billion-project forms part of the Omsk Refinery’s modernization program, being undertaken by Gazprom Neft since 2008.

Following reconstruction, the Omsk Refinery’s delayed coking unit will have a production capacity of 38,700 tonnes of raw needle coke per year. Three heavy-duty coke drums, weighing 197 tonnes and each of them 28.5 meters long, have already been installed — this equipment having been produced by leading Russian manufacturer Volgogradneftemash. Modernization to 2021 will also involve the replacement of furnace heaters and secondary distillation columns, construction of an additional tank farm, and the implementation of automated control systems.

Needle coke is a cutting-edge high-margin product, used in producing ultra-reliable graphite electrodes. All raw materials used in producing these are currently imported. The Omsk Refinery is the first in Russia to start producing needle coke.

Source: Gazprom Neft