*Egypt’s downstream capacity got a major boost with the start-up of the 81,500 b/d ERC hydrocracker on the outskirts of Cairo in the second half of 2019 (MEES, 22 November 2019). As the plant ramped up to full capacity in 2020 Egypt recorded a surplus in oil products for the first time in decades (MEES, 22 May 2020).

*The ERC plant takes straight run fuel oil from the nearby simple 160,000 b/d Cairo refinery and converts it to high value distillates. Start up here has in turn enabled a ramp up of runs at the Cairo plant. (CONTINUED - 1297 WORDS)