The Syrian Ministry of Energy announced on Friday, September 5, that the Banias Refinery (on Syria’s Mediterranean coast in Tartus province) has begun implementing what it described as a “strategic” project to replace reactor bodies and components, calling it the largest modernization initiative since the refinery’s establishment.
Ibrahim Muslim, Director-General of the Banias Refinery, told Enab Baladi that the project involves replacing the refinery’s reactor bodies and internal components, alongside replacing furnace coils and a steam generator.
According to Muslim, the aim is to ensure the safe and continuous operation of gasoline production units, as the current parts have reached the end of their operational lifespan.
He revealed that the project will be carried out during the comprehensive overhaul scheduled for next summer, starting in August 2026, and is expected to last around three and a half months.
The replacement of reactors will be executed by the company “Amidas” in cooperation with the Chinese firm “LS LANZHUO,” while the replacement of furnace coils and the steam generator will be carried out by “Victoria” in collaboration with another Chinese company, “TOPCIN.”
Muslim noted that both projects were studied and supervised in detail by a team of refinery engineers across various specializations. The dismantling and installation will take place under direct supervision of refinery engineers, with in-house teams conducting all required testing and trial operations.
Impact on fuel availability
Asked about alternatives to avoid fuel shortages during implementation, Muslim explained that the local market will be supplied with gasoline by stockpiling as much fuel as possible before the overhaul begins.
Additional quantities will also be secured from the Homs Refinery and through supply contracts signed by the state-owned fuel company “Mahroukat,” based on defined timelines.
The Ministry of Energy stated in its Friday press release that the project aims to strengthen operational safety and provide higher-quality petroleum products that meet local market needs.
The project specifically targets the replacement of four reactors (R1, R2, R3, R4) in the upgrading unit, in addition to replacing the internal components of the first and second reactors, which have exceeded their designed service life.
The upgrading unit reactors are considered the operational “heart” of high-octane gasoline production from naphtha, the main fuel for most vehicles. The project will ensure continued production of this essential material with improved efficiency and quality.
The Banias Refinery is a public company located on the eastern Mediterranean coast, north of Banias city in Tartus province. It was established under Decree No. 1035 of 1975, built by the Romanian company “Industrial Export,” with construction starting the same year.
Last week, the refinery carried out maintenance works on several production units by in-house technical teams, part of an ongoing plan to preserve readiness and ensure stable operations to supply the local market with petroleum products.
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