DUSHANBE (TCA) — The first production unit of an oil refinery in the Dangara Free Economic Zone (FEZ) in southern Tajikistan is to be commissioned at the end of August, Avesta news agency reported with reference to the Dangara FEZ administration.
Construction works are conducted according to schedule and the first production unit is planned to be launched on 31 August 2016. The first unit will be able to process 500 thousand tons of crude oil per year.
Chinese company Heli, the project’s investor, has delivered technological equipment for the refinery from Europe and China. Most of the equipment was manufactured in Germany and Italy.
It was earlier reported that Chinese investments in the project will amount to US $460 million.
The project consists of two stages. The first production unit of the refinery will be commissioned in 2016 and the next units in 2017.
In October 2014, Tajikistan’s parliament ratified an investment agreement between Tajikistan and China’s Dong Ying Heli Investment and Development Co. Ltd on the construction of an oil refinery in the Dangara Free Economic Zone in Tajikistan.
The Chinese company will construct the refinery producing the Euro-3 standard gasoline and diesel fuel.
The Chinese company already signed agreements with partners in Afghanistan, Kazakhstan and Russia on the delivery of crude oil to Dangara oil refinery.
Tajikistan currently relies on imports, mainly from Russia, to meet domestic need for fuel.
