Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASHGABAT424
2009-04-03 13:54:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:  

TURKMENISTAN: TURKMENBASHY REFINERY MODERNIZING

Tags:  PGOV EPET EINV TX 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO8979
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLH RUEHLN
RUEHLZ RUEHNEH RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHAH #0424/01 0931354
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 031354Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2593
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 5033
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 2786
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 2651
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL PRIORITY 3277
RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000424 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

SCA/CEN; EEB
PLEASE PASS TO USTDA DAN STEIN
ENERGY FOR EKIMOFF/THOMPSON
COMMERCE FOR HUEPER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV EPET EINV TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: TURKMENBASHY REFINERY MODERNIZING
AND TRYING TO OPERATE MORE CLEANLY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000424

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

SCA/CEN; EEB
PLEASE PASS TO USTDA DAN STEIN
ENERGY FOR EKIMOFF/THOMPSON
COMMERCE FOR HUEPER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV EPET EINV TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: TURKMENBASHY REFINERY MODERNIZING
AND TRYING TO OPERATE MORE CLEANLY


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Turkmenbashy Oil Refinery has
continued for the past several years to refurbish and
modernize its facilities, and is producing a wide range of
petroleum products mostly for the export market.
Modernization will help it boost its production, and,
combined with specific environmental improvements, should
help the refinery reduce its waste output. The Avaza Tourist
Zone's proximity will keep the pressure on to operate more
cleanly in the long term. END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) Poloff met on April 1 with Turkmenbashy oil
refinery director Temekgylych Hoshanov to learn about the
ongoing modernization of the facility and plans for the
future. Hoshanov knew little about the operations of the
refinery, and deferred almost all questions to a young
technical operations manager. (NOTE: Hoshanov has been the
refinery's director since November 2008, when the previous
director was fired for incompetence and corruption. END
NOTE.) Over one million tons of crude oil was processed in
2008, he said. The refinery produces gasoline,
polypropylene, kerosene, diesel fuel, liquefied gas, and
lubricant oils, as well as aircraft fuel. Liquefied
petroleum gas (LPG) goes to buyers in Afghanistan, Pakistan,
Iran, and the Caucasus states, he added. The refinery is
also a major producer of high-quality polypropylene (used
primarily in plastic production). He said that Russia, Iran,
and Tajikistan buy the refinery's oil coke as well. He noted
that prices in recent months had dropped on the refinery's
products, but nevertheless, sales were still solid.


3. (SBU) Over the last several years, he said, the refinery
has been replacing important components, which allowed them
to modernize with the best international technologies at the
same time. One example was the replacement of components
that produce jet fuel last year that has resulted in greater
fuel production and less pollution from the process, he said.
He claimed that all modern technology is in use now
throughout the refinery. He noted that U.S.-made scrubber
technology significantly reduced the plant's emissions. The
manager said that most recently, the refinery had installed a
new asphalt processing line that was almost ready to go into
operation. In December, he said the refinery had issued a
tender for the purchase of a benzene processing system. The
refinery produces a relatively modest amount of elemental
sulfur, the manager said, because the crude oil here has a
low sulfur content. Currently, 100 percent of the sulfur is
sold to a state chemical complex in Turkmenabat.


4. (SBU) When asked about efforts the refinery is
undertaking to reduce its polluting emissions, the manager
indicated that a tender had recently been issued for a water
cleaning system that would ensure that the water supply the
refinery uses for cooling purposes is clean before
re-entering local waterways. Hoshanov said the refinery was
also focused now on socio-economic development, both on
behalf of the employees of the refinery as well as
Turkmenbashy city. He said the refinery was overseeing the
construction of a city sports complex, as well as
participating in the construction of some of the new housing
planned for the city.


5. (SBU) COMMENT: Many of the refinery's facilities have
now been replaced, likely improving its production outputs,
but there is still probably much re-vamping yet to do on this
expansive facility. Fortunately, the refinery seems to have
the financial wherewithal to continue upgrading, and its
location, not far from the Avaza Tourist Zone, will compel it
increasingly to operate with less environmental impact. END

ASHGABAT 00000424 002 OF 002


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