Amuay Cardon refinery

Also known as:

Paraguana refining complex

Amuay and Cardon are an integrated refining complex on the Caribbean Coast of Venezuela

The refinery is owned and operated by PDVSA

Refinery configuration

Complexity: 6.6

Major process units:

Atmospheric distillation - 955 kbpd

Vacuum distillation  - 504 kbpd

Coker - 145 kbpd

FCC   - 167 kbpd

Alkylation  - 41 kbpd

Reformer - 41 kbpd - Continuous

Naphtha hydrotreater - 54 kbpd 

FCC gasoline hydrotreater - 3 kbpd

Distillate hydrotreater - 140 kbpd

VGO hydrotreater - 185 kbpd

C4 Isomerization - 21 kbpd

Oxygenates plant - 10 kbpd

Base oil plant - 6 kbpd

Asphalt plant - 36 kbpd

Refinery history

1949 - Cardon refinery commissioned by Shell

1950 - Amuay commissioned by Creole Refining Company

1976 - Nationalization of all oil assets in Venezuela and creation of PDVSA

1997 - Two sites integrated into one complex