Cartagena Refinery

What fuels a nation’s growth? Here at the Cartagena Refinery, we see the answer every day. The Cartagena Refinery isn’t just a collection of pipes and tanks. It’s a vital part of Colombia’s economic engine, a testament to the country’s vision for a cleaner, more prosperous future. In the late 1990s, Colombia realized a need for greater refining capacity. The demand, both domestic and international, required cleaner and more efficient fuels. This led to the expansion and modernization of the Cartagena Refinery. Its capacity increased to 150,000 barrels per day. This expansion transformed the Cartagena Refinery into a powerhouse of clean fuel production. The refinery plays a crucial role, holding significant market share in diesel and gasoline. The Cartagena Refinery produces the cleanest fuels in Colombia’s history. Their diesel boasts a sulfur content of less than ten parts per million. Their gasoline contains between 50 and 60 parts per million. These levels meet and even surpass stringent national and international standards. At the heart of this transformation lies the refinery’s hydrocracking unit. This state-of-the-art facility converts heavy products into valuable commodities. Using hydrogen and catalysts, it removes sulfur to create clean fuels. Another key component is the delayed coker, a first for Colombia. It converts heavy crude into valuable products and petroleum coke. This byproduct, a high-calorific-value solid fuel, is used in power generation and industries like cement, steel, and aluminum. The delayed coker also produces other valuable resources. These include fuel gas, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), naphtha, and gas oils. These then undergo further processing in the diesel hydrocracking and hydrotreater units. The result is even cleaner fuels, including ultra-low sulfur diesel. The Cartagena Refinery also houses Colombia’s first HF alkylation and butamer units. These units produce high-octane gasolines, enhancing the refinery’s product portfolio. The two diesel hydrotreater units were designed with the highest safety and reliability standards in mind. They ensure efficient production of ultra-low sulfur diesel. And the story of the Cartagena Refinery is still being written. Plans are underway to further expand capacity. An interconnection project is in development. This could boost the refinery’s capacity by 30%, allowing it to process over 200,000 barrels per day. As part of Ecopetrol since 1974, the Cartagena Refinery benefits from the expertise and resources of Colombia’s national oil company. This partnership maximizes efficiency, leverages logistical and operational synergies, and ensures adherence to the highest international standards. The Cartagena Refinery has contributed significantly to Colombia’s economy, saving the nation over $2 billion in fuel imports in a single year. The refinery is well-positioned to capitalize on emerging opportunities, like the MARPOL Annex VI legislation, which mandates lower sulfur content in maritime fuels. The Cartagena Refinery isn’t just refining oil. It’s refining the future, driving economic growth, and contributing to a cleaner environment for all Colombians.