The New Talara Refinery remains firm in its last phase of construction

The construction of the New Talara Refinery is in its last stage and to date it registers an integral progress of 91.11%, according to the President of the Board of PETROPERÚ, Eduardo Guevara Dodds, who this week verified in situ the works that are being executed, strictly complying with the protocols approved and established in the surveillance, prevention and control plans of COVID-19 for this project.

Guevara Dodds toured the facilities of the new refinery complex under construction, accompanied by the General Manager, Carlos Barrientos Gonzales and the Talara Refinery Project Manager, Jorge Alméstar Mauricio, verifying the progress of the 16 new and modern process units, as well as the auxiliary units and complementary services.

The construction work of the New Talara Refinery was restarted gradually and progressively, on June 15, after being suspended for three months due to the health emergency, a period in which only the necessary tasks were carried out, linked to the industrial safety of its facilities and equipment.

Work was restarted in critical areas with the incorporation of up to a maximum of 40% of the total number of workers that were available before the start of the State of National Emergency, strictly complying with the protocols approved and established in the surveillance plans, prevention and control of COVID-19 for this project. To date, there are more than 7,000 workers on site, under constant medical surveillance and following biosafety procedures.

The Chairman of the Board of PETROPERU specified that the start-up of the process units will begin at the end of November 2021 with the Primary Distillation Unit, followed by the other units, and it is estimated that the entire start-up process of the 16 units is achieved in approximately 4 months, until stabilization is achieved. This according to the updated work schedule, after the temporary suspension due to the pandemic.

Parallel to the progress in construction, PETROPERU staff -which has been trained to operate the new process units-, participate in pre-commissioning activities (no-load tests to verify equipment and systems) and subsequently do so. It will do in the commissioning (final tests of the systems), prior to the start-up and start of operations of the New Talara Refinery.

The investment in this project is USD 4.7 billion, which is made with PETROPERU's own resources and does not affect the country's fuel prices, which are governed by supply and demand, according to the Hydrocarbons Law. Likewise, it is important to specify that the financing has not required the endorsement of the State.

As you recall, this work was declared of Public Necessity and National Interest, to ensure the preservation of air quality and public health with Law 30130. During its execution it has contributed to boost the economy in the province of Talara and in the Piura region, in addition to generating thousands of direct and indirect jobs.