SUMGAYIT, Azerbaijan, September 16. A media
tour of the Ethylene-Polyethylene Plant has been organized within
the framework of SOCAR’s Energy Dialogue Platform ahead of
September 20 – Oil Workers' Day, Trend's correspondent reports from the
event.


Representatives from over 30 media outlets participated in the
event, which began with a detailed briefing on the plant's
operations, production capabilities, and modernization projects
implemented in recent years.


During the tour, it was noted that the facility comprises
Ethylene, Polyethylene, and Steam and Electric Power Production
(SEPP) units. Following reconstruction and modernization efforts,
the annual design capacity for ethylene production reached 190,000
tons, while propylene production capacity rose to 187,000 tons. The
SEPP unit, commissioned in 2001, supplies the plant's production
areas with steam and electricity.


The information was provided that products manufactured by the
Azerkimya Production Union are primarily exported to Türkiye,
Estonia, and China, with supplies also being delivered to Central
Asian countries. European markets represent the primary target for
exports, though priority is given to meeting the demand of the
Turkish market.


According to the information, large-scale modernization work
began in 2016 on the EP-300 unit of the Ethylene-Polyethylene
Plant, within the framework of the "State Program on Industrial
Development in Azerbaijan for 2015–2020," approved by the
President's decree dated December 26, 2014. The project's primary
objective was to ensure a stable supply of ethylene, propylene,
pure hydrogen, and energy resources to the SOCAR Polymer complex
operating in the Sumgayit Chemical Industrial Park.


During the event, it was also noted that the raw materials used
for production are supplied directly from SOCAR’s Heydar Aliyev Oil
Refinery. In this regard, the Ethylene-Polyethylene Plant is
considered a vital link in SOCAR’s integrated value chain, which
extends from crude oil extraction to polymer production.


As part of the modernization project, new storage facilities, a
hydrogen enrichment unit, propane-propylene fraction units, four
new pyrolysis furnaces, an M-4 turbocompressor, selective
hydrogenation reactors, various pumps, and other equipment were put
into operation. During a major overhaul in 2020, the new units and
equipment were integrated into the existing EP-300 facility,
ensuring the plant's high-performance operation.


As a result, the daily volume of raw material processing has
reached an average of 2,500 tons. Daily production stands at 630
tons for ethylene and 550 tons for propylene. Following the
reconstruction work, actual production volumes for key products
have doubled overall, with some products seeing a threefold
increase.


Besides, during a media tour, it was announced that the
production capacity utilization rate at Azerkimya PU is expected to
exceed 85% in 2026. The facility utilized 86% of its production
capacity in 2025.







During the media tour, it was also highlighted that
environmental projects are being implemented at the facility. One
of the primary objectives is the capture of carbon dioxide (CO₂)
generated during the production process and its reuse as a raw
material. Plans are in place to direct the captured CO₂ to the urea
plant.


The information noted that under normal operating conditions,
only gases essential for process safety are flared in the flare
system, and emissions are monitored via specialized systems.
Additionally, inert purge gases generated at SOCAR Polymer’s
polypropylene and high-density polyethylene units are being reused.
To achieve this, the gases are returned to the production process
via a 4-kilometer pipeline laid between Azerkimya and SOCAR
Polymer.


During a media tour, Elnur Mammadli, General Director of
Azerkimya, said that the engineering phase of the facility's
instrumentation and automation project is already 98 percent
complete.


"Physical installation and construction-repair work at the site
will begin next year. Once the project is finished, the plant's
control systems will be fully automated, and the safety and
reliability of operations will be further enhanced," Mammadli
noted.


According to him, Azerkimya plays a crucial role in linking the
Oil Refinery with SOCAR Polymer by processing incoming light
fractions to supply the primary raw materials needed for polymer
production.


The general director also mentioned that, as a result of
technical upgrades, the interval between major overhauls has been
extended from once a year to once every two years, enabling cost
optimization.


It was noted that the plant currently employs 1,900 people. The
facility produces 190,000 tons of ethylene, 187,000 tons of
propylene, and 120,000 tons of polyethylene annually. Low-density
polyethylene (LDPE) is produced at the Polimir-120 unit. The
production capacity of the energy facility stands at 480 tons of
steam and 68 MW of electricity per hour.


Afterwards, media representatives toured the plant's production
areas.