ExxonMobil has unveiled plans to invest over £800m in expanding its Fawley refinery, which is currently the UK’s largest oil refinery, on Britain’s south coast.
ExxonMobil claims the expansion will up its ultra-low sulphur diesel production levels by 38,000 barrels per day (bpd), an increase of 45% on its current capacity. The UK is currently highly dependent on foreign-made diesel, having imported half of its diesel requirements in 2017. This expansion should help to reduce this.
As part of the expansion plans, a hydrogen plant will be built to enhance the energy efficiency of the refinery, while a hydrotreater unit will be constructed to remove sulphur from refined fuel. Improvements will also be made to logistics processes.
The president of ExxonMobil Fuels and Lubricants Co., Bryan Milton, said about the expansion:
“ExxonMobil continues to invest in the Fawley refinery and chemical plant, Britain’s largest integrated facility. This investment will make Fawley refinery the most efficient in the United Kingdom, supporting Esso’s industry-leading logistics and fuel marketing operations.”
ExxonMobil makes a variety of products at its Fawley Refinery, including chemical feedstocks and transport fuel. It also manufactures other valuable refined products, such as lubricant basestocks for hydraulic oils like Mobil DTE 25.
The firm says it has already started on the design and engineering for the project, which should create up to a thousand construction jobs. Construction is set to begin later this year if it gains planning approval, with the project going live in 2021.