A cornerstone of PetroChina's ambitious Guangxi Petrochemical Refining and Chemical Integration Transformation and Upgrading Project has reached a critical milestone with the successful completion and handover of its first main production unit. The 2 million tons per year diesel adsorption separation unit, now recognized as the world's largest of its kind, was delivered with high standards on March 30, signifying a major step forward in the project's construction.

The state-of-the-art unit was meticulously constructed by Kunlun Engineering EPC General Contractor Daqing Oilfield Construction Group, with rigorous supervision provided by Qingdao Huayou. The project commenced in October 2023 and achieved completion in an impressive 525 days, underscoring the efficiency and dedication of the teams involved.

This groundbreaking diesel adsorption separation device employs an innovative "reducing oil and increasing chemical" technology, a process meticulously developed based on the principles of "molecular engineering." This advanced approach enables the high-purity separation of various diesel fractions, maximizing the value extracted from the raw materials.

The unit boasts a high degree of integration and intricate processing capabilities. It utilizes hydrofined diesel as its primary feedstock. A key aspect of its design is the strategic utilization of its output streams. The non-aromatic compounds produced through the adsorption process serve as essential raw materials for the project's ethylene cracking units, optimizing resource utilization within the integrated complex. Simultaneously, the heavy aromatics generated are channeled to enhance the production of higher-value products, including naphtha and propylene, further boosting the project's economic viability. The unit itself comprises four key sections, encompassing adsorption and raffinate extraction processes.

The overarching refining and chemical integration transformation and upgrading project undertaken by China Petroleum Guangxi Petrochemical Company is a strategically significant endeavor within the national petrochemical industry planning framework, representing a substantial total investment of 30.5 billion yuan (approximately $4.2 billion USD). The comprehensive project plan includes the construction of a 1.2 million tons per year ethylene refining unit, complemented by a network of corresponding supporting facilities. This network encompasses 14 distinct chemical units and two refining units, with the entire complex slated for completion and handover in 2025.

The diverse array of 14 main chemical units within the project highlights its ambition and scope. These units include a 1.2 million tons per year ethylene unit, a 550,000 tons per year pyrolysis gasoline hydrogenation unit combined with a styrene extraction unit, a 180,000 tons per year butadiene extraction unit, a 100,000/60,000 tons per year MTBE/butene-1 unit, a 350,000 tons per year aromatics extraction unit, a 400,000 tons per year full-density polyethylene unit (FDPE), a 300,000 tons per year high-density polyethylene unit (HDPE), a 300,000 tons per year tubular ethylene-vinyl acetate unit (EVA), a 100,000 tons per year kettle ethylene-vinyl acetate unit (H-EVA), a 400,000 tons per year polypropylene unit (PP), a 50,000 tons per year hexene-1 unit, a 270,000/600,000 tons per year propylene oxide/styrene unit (PO/SM), a 300,000 tons per year polystyrene unit (PS), and a 120,000/80,000 tons per year solution butadiene rubber integrated unit (SSBR/SBS).

The successful completion and operationalization of this extensive refining and chemical integration project are poised to drive a significant transformation for China Petroleum Guangxi Petrochemical. It will facilitate a strategic shift from a predominantly "fuel type" production model to one that emphasizes the production of high-value "chemical products and organic materials." This evolution signifies a modernization of the company's industrial capabilities, transitioning from a basic refining industry focus to a more advanced "basic + high-end" energy chemical materials complex.

Furthermore, this landmark project holds considerable strategic importance for the broader regional economy. It is expected to play a crucial role in addressing existing gaps within the regional high-end chemical new materials industry, catering to the growing market demand along the Western Land-Sea New Corridor, and ultimately contributing to the establishment of a trillion-level petrochemical industry cluster strategically positioned to serve the ASEAN market. The completion of the world's largest diesel adsorption separation unit represents a tangible step towards realizing these ambitious goals.