Egypt is adding units at the aging Suez refinery as it works to provide for a major infrastructure expansion and growing electricity demand. Petroleum Minister Sharif Isma’il has contracted local firms to build asphalt and diesel units at the Suez plant, where crude distillation capacity is 64,000 b/d.

A 400,000 tons/year (6,640 b/d) asphalt unit and 260,000 t/y (5,340 b/d) diesel unit will be designed and built by ENPPI, the engineering arm of state firm EGPC, and private contractor Petrojet. The petroleum ministry estimates the total cost at $50mn and expects 2018 start-up. (CONTINUED - 289 WORDS)