Unprecedented Technology For Sonatrach At “Augusta” Refinery In Italy

The National Hydrocarbons Company Sonatrach, through its Italian branch (the “Augusta” Refinery), signed an agreement with the Polytechnic School of Turin, northwest of the country, to work out a feasibility study for a completely brand new technology by capturing the carbon dioxide emitted from its facilities and converting it into liquid fuel.

In this regard, the account of the “Sonatrach Raffineria Italiana” refinery in Italy on the “LinkedIn” network stated that an agreement was initialed with the Polytechnic School of Turin to conduct a feasibility study on the use of “carbon capture, storage and use” technology in the industrial activities of the Augusta refinery on the island of Sicily.

According to the same source, the study includes determining the size of the facility necessary to capture and use the carbon dioxide emitted from the refinery, in order to produce liquid fuels and synthetics (manufacturing) gas, indicating that the main goal is to identify the most appropriate technical solutions given the current levels of carbon dioxide emissions stemming from the Sonatrach refinery coupled with the associated investment cost.

On the sidelines of the signing ceremony, the CEO of the Italian Sonatrach refinery, Rosario Pistorio, stated that it is very possible to obtain fuel through this technology containing very low levels of carbon dioxide at the production site, which will have very positive results in terms of sustainability, preservation of the environment and reducing the impact on the ocean.

The official of Sonatrach Refinery in Italy stressed for his part that this step “confirms the company’s desire and will to continue investing in sustainable development with innovative solutions” … “We hope the local government will duly buttress our sector in terms of investments,” he indicated, referring to the regional government in Sicily.

There have been reservations on the part of the regional government of Sicily regarding the prospects for developing the refinery, according to statements by a deputy from the island.

In this context, Representative Giovanni Caveo called on the regional government in Sicily to lift its reservations regarding the prospects for development and pelleting program for the refinery, given that the facility invests in research and development, especially with the multi-technology pole in “Turin”, one of the internationally recognized schools.

The relevant document on the sustainability report of the Italian Sonatrach refinery (Augusta) published by “Echorouk” in previous issues, indicated that its turnover last year reached 4.5 billion euros, while Algeria supplied 800 thousand tons of fuel, of which 460 thousand tons of gasoline and 350 thousand tons of diesel.

It also indicated that it won the battle of polluting gas emissions after it was reduced to levels well below the required European rates.