Ukhta Oil Refinery was founded in 1934. The start of the enterprise began with a three-cube distillation unit of continuous operation. The first production was received in March, and the final debugging of production and technological processes was completed on August 20 of the same year, this day is considered to be the birthday of UNPZ.
Base
Until the mid-1950s, the Ukhta Oil Refinery was a manufacturing enterprise of the GULAG correctional system. The gloomy circumstance, as in many other cases, was the start for the intensive development of the plant and the city.
The camp leadership had the opportunity to send workers of appropriate qualifications and experience to work. A significant role in the introduction of innovations in technological processes was made by repressed scientists who ended up serving their sentences at the plant. The city of Ukhta was formed by exiles and settlers, they contributed to the development of the economy, industry and culture of the region.
Development
From the beginning of the 60s to the end of the 80s, the Ukhta refinery experienced a period of intensive growth and industrialization. Recently discovered deposits were put into development - Usinsk, Voyvozh, etc. The incoming raw materials required processing, but the technical equipment lagged behind the production rate. According to the recollections of old-timers of the refinery, they often had to spend a day at the workplace.
To develop the increased supply of raw materials, the enterprise’s capacities expanded significantly, a bitumen plant, tank farms, a gasoline reforming unit were installed, railway overpasses were built for oil products, and much more. In the early 80s, the plant's capacity amounted to more than 6 million tons of finished products per year.
A program for re-equipping the technical base was developed and launched; it envisaged large-scale changes over several years. It was not possible to implement the whole plan; with the collapse of the USSR, the plant practically ceased economic activity.
Modernization
The history of the formation and work of the Ukhta refinery knows several periods of modernization. It was successfully held for the first time in the mid-80s. The next wave of technical re-equipment and updating of production capacities occurred in the late 90s. In 1999, Lukoil acquired the Ukhta Plant, forming the company OAO Lukoil-Ukhtaneftepererabotka.
In 2000, investments in the Ukhta refinery amounted to more than 600 million rubles. Investments made it possible to repair the workshops, build the missing production complexes and facilities, and update the technical base. Thanks to the introduction of innovations, the loss of oil products was significantly reduced, the environmental protection system improved, many work processes received mechanization or automation that excluded manual labor.
The comprehensive renovation program of Lukoil-Ukhtaneftepererabotka in Ukhta identified such priority areas of modernization:
- Increasing the depth of processing of raw materials (oil).
- Release of products in accordance with the European quality standard.
- Carrying out a set of measures to ensure environmental safety.
Key upgrade steps
By 2001, the technical upgrade of the oldest facility of the Ukhta Oil Refinery was fully implemented - the AT-1 unit was modernized without stopping production cycles, investments amounted to more than 300 million rubles. After the upgrade, its capacity increased to 3 million tons of oil per year, the depth of crude oil processing increased by 10%.
The implementation of the refinery development program in Ukhta made it possible to build the first complex in Russia for processing high-paraffin oils extracted in the Timan-Pechora province, which made it possible to master the production of diesel jet fuel (jet fuel). In 2003, the company began producing diesel fuel of Euro-4, Euro-5 standards. This was made possible thanks to the commissioning of a domestic production unit GDS-80.
By 2007, the Ukhta refinery operated a new railway overpass complex for the discharge of dark oil products, which increased the shipment of the finished product to 4 million tons per year. The latest visbreaking unit, designed for deep oil refining, also began work. Its capacity is up to 800 thousand tons per year. In 2009, an isomerization unit was launched, which made it possible to launch the production of Euro-4 gasoline.
Products
Currently, the planned capacity of the refinery is more than 5.8 million tons of products per year. About 4 million tons of oil are processed at the plant, on average 1 million tons of diesel fuel and over 500 thousand tons of gasoline of several grades are produced annually. According to the world classification, the plant belongs to the category of technologically uncomplicated (Nelson index - 3.7). Since 2005, the company has been operating an international quality management system standard ISO 9001.
Products of the Ukhta refinery :
- Automobile gasolines of several brands.
- Fuel for ships.
- Jet (aviation) fuel.
- Oven and diesel fuel.
- Technological gasoline.
- Fuel oil and bitumen.
The geography of deliveries covers the northwestern regions of Russia, near and far abroad.
Social guarantees
Relations between management and employees are regulated by a collective agreement and a code of social responsibility adopted by the parent company and implemented at the Lukoil-Ukhtaneftepererabotka plant. The Ukhta refinery is one of the city-forming industrial giants, which requires the enterprise to carry out a set of social programs, which include:
- Medical care, labor and health protection.
- Support for families and women with children.
- Improvement of workers, members of their families, creation of conditions for good rest.
- Support for young workers and professionals.
- Targeted assistance to pensioners of the plant.
- Private Pension Program.
The introduction of new technologies requires highly qualified employees, annually more than a third of the staff increases the level of knowledge. The factory annually holds a competition of professional excellence among workers. The refinery adopted a system of material incentives for employees, including not only wages, but also bonuses, one-time material payments, bonuses and much more.
Responsibility
The company invests a share of the profits in the construction of residential real estate on the basis of shared participation of plant employees, which allowed many families to improve housing conditions. The annual deductions of UNPZ to charitable foundations and its own activities in this area amount to more than 12 million rubles. Most of the contributions are distributed in cooperation with the administration of the Komi Republic.
Also, the Ukhta Oil Refinery provides support to regional industries, investing in the development of healthcare, sports, culture and education. A significant share of assistance is provided to law enforcement agencies to improve the material and technical base, purchase of combustible and lubricating materials, and ongoing and overhaul of real estate.
Occupational Safety and Health
Creating a safe working environment is one of the most important tasks of the company. As part of this development direction, the plant provides regular training of personnel in safety regulations and monitoring of their implementation. Workers of shops and other services are supplied with overalls, personal protective equipment, the company insures the life and health of staff.
In 2014, the Ukhta refinery was recognized as the best in the contest “Success and Safety”. A deserved victory went to the organization of working conditions. It was possible to create an adequate working environment based on a risk-based concept, which is based on the requirements of the relevant federal law.
Environmental responsibility
The company believes that the preservation of the environment is a prerequisite for successful operations. Modern technologies allow the company to minimize the negative consequences of the production activities of the Ukhta refinery. Review and monitoring of the condition of water (ground, surface), air at the sanitary-protective border, reclaimed land, wastewater is regularly carried out in laboratory conditions. The plant also controls the formation and movement of chemical waste.
In 2005, the company received certificates of the international standard for industrial safety and ecology. Air monitoring is carried out at 16 points located on the border with the nearest residential development. Specialists of the factory laboratory take samples and take measurements of the air condition twice a week. Mandatory monitoring points are determined by the direction and speed of the wind.
In 2015, due to the economic crisis and the imposed sanctions, there was a threat of closure of the refinery. Fortunately, the management managed to soften the blow and continue their activities. Today, Lukoil does not confirm information on the closure or sale of a refinery in Ukhta. In 2017, the plant underwent a scheduled repair.