AZGR - 42 YEARS

Old-resident is "42"

This year the Azerbaijan Gas Refinery (AzGR) with well-known labor biography became 42 - first AzGR natural gas and gas condensate treating devices (capacity 675 thousand tons a year), also unstable gasoline fractionating devices were put into operation in 1961. Originally, gas and condense from Garadagh field were utilized as crude stuff. Then the crude stuff was added by associated and natural gas recovered from Azerbaijan sea gas deposits. Consequently, in four years refinery's capacities were enhanced through introduction of new gas refinery units, and in 1964 refining in Azerbaijan reached the target volume of 4,5 billion c.m. of gas per year. After some technical and technological changes, capacity of the plant grew to 6,5 billion c.m. of gas per year. Technology envisaged in the project allows getting liquefied gas, kerosene fraction (absorbent for gas refining devices), heavy condenses (crude stuff for oil refining plants) and gas benzene (crude stuff for oil-chemical complex).

For 2003 Azerbaijan gas refinery processed 2 billion 164 mln 681 thousand c.m. of gas and received 2 bn 100 mln 880 thousand c.m. high-quality net gas.

"Second breath"

After the ex-president of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev came to power in 1993 and signature of the "contract of the century" in 1994, petroleum strategy of the country is worked out which accelerates development rates of the oil-and-gas branch.

Since April 1998 the development of AzGR became more purposeful - Huseinbala Miralamov Fazil oglu (was born in 1947, married, has three sons and a daughter) was appointed director of the plant. Miralamov started his working experience from the position of foreman. He worked as chief engineer, then - headed the interregional gas constructing-and-mounting department and construction trust. He also occupied the position of general director of "Liquefied gas" Production Association, first deputy chairman of the state fuel committee, taught in an institute of higher education. In 1979 he was awarded the Order of Labor Red Banner. He is the chairman of plant committee of the "Yeni Azerbaijan" party.

With energy inherent to Miralamov, he puts all forces on drawing up strategic plan of development of the enterprise. All the chief experts of the enterprise took part in devising three-year strategic plan. Later on, foreign experts noted that AzGR experts manage to achieve the max effect under minimal financial means.

The fruits of radical changes for the introduction of new strategy of the enterprise did not force to wait so long. By 2000 at the expense of own means of the plant - power supply system was fully updated, electric shop was built for engine revamp, mobile diagnostic laboratory for electric shops was bought, the commodity park was repaired, auto economy was put to appropriate order, wide computer network of the plant was added 40 latest up-to-date units that lightened management of technology processes (weighting gas volumes, accountant works, preparation of statistical reports). Four out of five basic installations are fully repaired, fifth - capacity of 3 mln c. m. of gas per day was put in operation at early 2001. For the purpose of safety, 48 silvery-colored cigar-shaped tanks were lifted on new platforms, as the obsolete concrete pales played out their lifetime.

The following step of intensive development of the enterprise became purchase of modern physical-chemical equipment for definition of structure of ready production that allowed European standard production. The central plant lab was transformed where the gas acting for processing, production received from it is certified and control over their quality is realized.

In connection with increased demand for liquefied gas from second half of 1998 in Azerbaijan and limitation of actual raw base of the plant - the decision is adopted to produce it from the delivered raw material. As the result of negotiations contract on supply of wide spread of light hydrocarbons is concluded between AzGR and the enterprise "Tengizchevroil" (in Kazakhstan). Only for 1998-99 6343 tons of raw material was received from "Tengizchevroil", 5352 tons of technical butane (liquefied gas) and 991 tons of gas petrol were produced of them. Together with SOCAR tender was executed, and then the contract on purchase electronic weight to measure volume of imported and received production was concluded.

All workers of the plant understand that they are working on prospect. Having capacities of 5.5 bn c.m. of gas per year, AzGR now accepts to processing 2.2-2.3 bn. And the case is not that natural gas does not suffice in sea deposits of Azerbaijan. On existing technology, the installations of AzGR are capable to process only high-pressure gas (18-25 standard atmosphere.). The majority of old sea deposits are at late stage of development, and gas leaves under low pressure therefrom. As a result more than a half of trade gas goes to the consumers together with most valuable components, which are burnt instead of producing profit.

According to one of the decrees of the ex-president of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev SOCAR finished reconstruction of booster compressor station in "Neft Dashlari". Three additional units have allowed increasing capacity of the station from 5.8 mln c.m. to 7.4 mln c.m. per day. It means that inhabitants of the republic have received additional 1.6 mln c.m. of "blue fuel". Besides, in November 2003 construction and test of subsea gas line connecting the deposit "Neft Dashlari" and "Bahar" is completed. This gas pipeline with capacity of 5-5.5 mln c.m. of gas per day will alow AzGR getting additional volume of raw gas for processing.

In 2003 measuring devices were built at the plant to measure quantity of crude gas entering for treatment, also net gas leaving AzGR.

Prospects of development

It is known that the stronger the cooling raw material is, the less there will be loss of valuable components. On AzGR it is possible to reduce temperature of absorbent in summer only to 30-40¦C. The majority of modern OR, including in Russia, already started using propane-cooling installation. In 2004 the enterprise wishes to get the given installation, which will allow increasing liquefied gas production approximately by 25%. At the expense of receiving additional production the installation will pay its cost back.

Experts of the plant constantly get acquainted with innovations applied on gas treating installations of similar type at the Russian enterprises. Having got independence the Azerbaijan Republic found new international trade-economic relations. AzGR has close contacts with foreign companies working in Azerbaijan. They are Statoil (Norway), ConocoFillips (USA), Nichimen Corp. (Japan). At the end of 1998 plant experts were invited to Norway and took direct participation in preparation of the upgrading project of existing and construction of new plant for processing gas at the deposit "Shah Deniz" offered by Statoil. AzGR relates perspective plans namely with it. As the analysis showed, gas from "Shah Deniz" has high enough content of heavy hydrocarbons that makes its processing rather profitable. The plant is at the center of well-advanced industrial infrastructure: near are located railway, motorway, there are own tank farm, platform economy, pipelines. Only new gas pipeline will be added to it from the deposit "Shah Deniz".

Since 2005 commissioning the "Shah Deniz" deposit AzGR hopes to receive additional crude gas for processing. In view of planned increase of deliveries of gas and for qualitative supply of the population and industry of Azerbaijan with gas, in 2004 the plant plans construction of a new installation capable to process 2,5 bn c.m. of gas annually. The new installation will work under the completely new technology, capable to produce appropriately qualitative production. Thus, there is an opportunity to increase the plant capacity up to 8 bn c.m. gas per year.

Life at the plant

Care of the personnel was always in the focus of attention of the leadership of AzGR. Average salary of the workers of AzGR is gradually increasing, and for last five years increased by 77% in spite of that significant part of the profit went on reconstruction and development of manufacture.

In order to improve professional skill of the young staff AzGR receives additional knowledge at the specialized courses in the Oil Academy of Azerbaijan. Besides, gardening works are conducted at the plant and around it.

The plant is far from the city and surrounding settlements, therefore buses of the plant deliver the engineering-technical personnel and workers from Lokbatan, Sahil, Puta and Baku to the workplace. Every day more than 200 workers have dinner in the restaurant at the expense of the enterprise. Each year workers of the plant are sent to boarding houses, sanatoria on reduced prices, or free-of-charge. Working conditions are improved, conditioners of the newest models are established in shops and studies. Male and female hairdressers' services are totally free-of-charge. Also studio of styles and dentist function at the plant. And for annual routine inspection doctors come to the plant. In a word, all conditions for creative activity are created. There is high discipline at the plant, people value their job. The plant collective is rallied both in grieve and in pleasure. The active youth policy is carried out. The leadership of AzGR treats with special care the people having worked in petroleum industry long years. Families of the people who once time worked at the plant and lost health are never forgotten - grant is allocated for them. All know that during the not announced war by Armenia, Azerbaijan lost about 20% of the territory, more than 1 mln people were left without a cover and became refugees, more than 18 thousand people were killed, tens of thousands of people turned to invalids. The war did not avoid the AzGR collective also. At the plant there were workers killed in Garabagh and there are invalids of war. In 2001 Heydar Aliyev, the ex-president of the country took part at the opening ceremony of the living quarter constructed in the settlement Lokbatan for families of the martyrs and invalids. Annually on holidays of Novruz and Kurban-bayrami the employees are given bonuses. Hospitals, children's houses, boarding schools, invalids and retirement houses are not left without gifts either. The leadership of the plant plans construction of a new living quarter of 100 apartments the coming years in order to increase housing fund.

Maintenance of plant capacities during 42 years required huge courage. All this is the fruit of successful petroleum strategy of the ex-president of Azerbaijan, dear Heydar Aliyev. Successful realization of this strategy in life is the road, which will take people to the perfect future.

Achievements and awards

The successes and achievements of the enterprise first of all depend on harmonious self-denying work of the collective aimed at highest values. And it does not remain unnoticed, numerous awards, diplomas and prizes awarded to the plant and its best workers testify to this. The bright confirmation of this became presentation of max award of the International Academic Rating "Gold Fortune" - Silver Stela to the Azerbaijan Gas Refining plant and Diploma in the nomination "Quality of the third millenium". And potential and pride of a factory - such a director as Huseinbala Miralamov Fazil oglu in the nomination "For high working parameters and powerful contribution in the development of gas processing branch of Transcaucasian countries" was awarded Georgiyevskiy medal of "Honor. Glory. Labor" of the IV degree. He is the winner of the award "CIS - Director of the Year" 1999-2002 awarded annually to 100 industrial and science leaders at the support of governments of the countries of Commonwealth and Russian union of Manufacturers under the initiative of the political newspaper "Tribune". In 2001 he became the owner of the award (gold medal) of Association of assistance to French industrial. And finally, in December 2003 the Association of assistance to the French industrial awarded Huseinbala Miralamov the medal of Napoleon and thus confirmed Miralamov assignment of the symbolic rank of marshal in his sphere of activity.