The 5 largest oil refineries in the world
Strong oil refineries are crucial for countries for several fundamental reasons. First, these facilities enable the transformation of feedstocks such as crude oil into refined products, such as gasoline, diesel and petrochemicals, which are essential to maintain mobility and sustain numerous industries.
In addition, a robust refining infrastructure strengthens energy security by reducing dependence on imports and minimizing vulnerability to international price fluctuations.
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Below are the 5 largest oil refineries in the world.
1. Jamnagar refinery, India: the largest oil refinery in the world
The Jamnagar oil refinery is the largest industrial complex in the world, covering an area of more than 30,000 km2. It is operated by the Indian multinational Reliance Industries.
It is in the prime position with a refining capacity of approximately 1.24 million barrels per day (bpd), according to Statista. Its large refining capacity enabled India to switch from being a net oil importer to an oil exporter and ensure its energy security.
This oil refinery, located on India’s west coast, produces a wide range of products including transportation fuels, petrochemicals and materials for the chemical industry.
2. Paraguaná Refinery, Venezuela
In second place is the Paraguaná refinery complex in Venezuela, which is operated by the Venezuelan oil company PDVSA. This complex consists of the Amuay, Bajo Grande and Cardón refineries.
It currently has a refining capacity of about 971,000 bpd, according to Statista.
Despite the mishaps it has suffered and the fact that it is not currently operating at full capacity, it is still one of the largest facilities in the world and Iran has recently expressed its interest in supporting the modernization of this refinery.
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3. Ruwais Industrial Complex, United Arab Emirates
This complex is located in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), 240 km from the city of Abu Dhabi. It is operated by the Abu Dhabi National Company (ADNOC), the UAE’s state-owned oil company.
According to data published by ADNOC, the Ruwais Refining Complex has a refining capacity of about 922,000 bpd. In addition, the production of a wide range of petroleum products is concentrated within this industrial complex.
4. Ulsan Refinery, South Korea
It is located in the industrial complex of Ulsang, one of the six metropolitan cities of South Korea. It is owned by SK Energy, the most important oil company in the country.
The Ulsang oil refinery has a refining capacity of about 840,000 bpd, according to SK Energy, which is sold on the domestic market and also exported.
5. Yeosu Refinery, South Korea
The Yeosu refinery is located in South Jeolla province, in the southwest of the Asian country. This oil refinery is operated by GS Caltex, the second largest oil company in the country, owned by the US oil company Chevron and the South Korean energy company GS Energy.
It has a refining capacity of approximately 730,000 bpd, according to Statista. It also has the capacity to produce benzene, toluene, xylene, polypropylene, among other petrochemicals.
How are Colombian oil refineries faring?
The most important oil refinery in the country is the Barrancabermeja refinery, which is located in the department of Santander. Compared to the refining giants, Ecopetrol operates with a more modest capacity of around 250,000 bpd, according to Ecopetrol data. This is only 20% of the refining capacity of the world’s largest refinery.
Although smaller in size compared to the world’s leading oil refineries, this oil refinery plays a crucial role in the supply of petroleum products and fuels to the domestic market.
The diversity in size and scope of these oil refineries reflects the complexity and breadth of the global energy industry.
This is how foreign direct investment in Colombia behaved during the first half of 2022
