London, 22 August (Argus) — Cameroon’s state-owned Sonara plans to restart production at its 42,000 b/d Limbe refinery in December 2027. The plant has been idle since a fire in May 2019.
UK engineering consultancy Ekium has recommended a partial restoration of the site, Sonara said, although targeted nameplate capacity was not disclosed. Sonara and Ekium were approached for comment on this.
Ekium said 75pc of Limbe’s original capacity are recoverable, with 8pc permanently lost and 17pc to be verified from September.
Sonara will construct a hydrocracker, diesel hydrotreatment plant and isomerisation unit in 2028-30, to allow gasoline and diesel output to meet Afri 5/6 standards containing 10ppm-50ppm sulphur, and fuel oil to meet Marpol specifications of no higher than 5,000ppm sulphur.
A second crude distillation unit (CDU) will be installed in 2031-35, alongside a second hydrocracker unit and a vacuum distillation unit (VDU), increasing output by 3.5mn t/yr.
Technical work will begin in January. Sonara will continue to supply refined products until the refinery restarts production, it said.
By George Maher-Bonnett
