Top 8 Largest Oil Refineries in the World, Three in South Korea

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Oil refineries are facilities critical in transforming crude oil into valuable petroleum products such as petrol, diesel oil, and kerosene. The International Energy Agency (IEA), through its 2023 medium-term outlook, estimated that global oil demand will reach its biggest level at US$528 billion, an 11 percent increase since 2015. 

List of largest oil refineries in the world

Citing Sterling Thermal Technology, here is the list of the eight largest oil refineries in the world based on their production capacity:

1. Jamnagar Refinery

The Jamnagar refinery is a private-sector crude oil refinery owned by Reliance Industries in Jamnagar, Gujarat, India. Commissioned in July 1999 with a capacity of 668,000 barrels per day, the refinery now has a capability of 1,240,000 barrels per day.

2. Paraguaná Refinery Complex

The Paraguaná refinery complex is located in the northwestern part of Venezuela.  It is owned and operated by Venezuela’s state-owned company, Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), and was first opened in 1976.

It consists of three refineries, including the Carbon and Amuay refineries with a combined capacity to process 955,000 barrels per day, whereas the Bajo Grande asphalt plant can process 16,000 barrels per day.

3. SK Energy Ulsan Refinery Complex

In 1964, SK Energy developed the SK Energy Ulsan Refinery Complex. This complex processes up to 840,000 barrels of crude oil per day, making it the largest in Asia.

4. Ruwais Refinery

Initially commissioned in June 1981, the refinery is situated on the coast of the Arabian Gulf, west of Abu Dhabi City. Operated by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), this facility can refine up to 837,000 barrels of crude and condensate daily.

5. Yeosu Refinery

Aside from SK Energy Ulsan, The Yeosu refinery is located in Jeollanam, South Korea, and started operations in 1969. This refinery is operated by GS Caltex, producing 800,000 barrels of crude daily.

6. Onsan Refinery

Still in South Korea, the Onsan refinery is an integrated refinery that opened in 1980 in Ulsan. The refinery is operated by the S-Oil Corporation Inc. and owned by Saudi Arabian Oil. This refinery is able to produce 669,000 barrels of crude per day.

7. Port Arthur Refinery

The Motiva refinery in Port Arthur, Texas, is the largest oil refinery in North America. The first processing units of the Port Arthur Refinery were built in 1902 and officially started running in 1903. As of May 2016, the refinery has reached its maximum capacity of 630,000 barrels per day.

8. Jurong Island Refinery

The Jurong Island refinery is a non-integrated refinery owned by Chevron and China National. Built in 1973, this refinery is located in South West Singapore and has a capacity to produce 290,000 barrels per day.

STERLING THERMAL TECHNOLOGY |  MELYNDA DWI PUSPITA

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