ExxonMobil Rotterdam refinery update: Three new hydrocracker reactors arrive

ROTTERDAM, December 20, 2016 - Three brand new reactors for ExxonMobil’s new hydrocracker arrived at the Rotterdam, Netherlands, refinery site in December, 2016. After the arrival of the vacuum tower early in October, 2016, the arrival of the new reactors highlights the progress of the construction that is well underway at the Rotterdam refinery.

The reactors, in height varying from 25 meters to more than 30 meters and with a diameter of 4.5 meters, were built in Italy and subsequently shipped to Rotterdam. The units will be installed at the refinery site in early 2017.

The new hydrocracker will convert heavier products into cleaner, higher-quality end products such as base stocks for lubricants, base oils and ultra-low sulfur diesel.

High-value fuels and base oils 

With an investment of over one billion dollars in the new hydrocracker unit, ExxonMobil reinforces the leading position of the Rotterdam refinery in the European refining sector. The Rotterdam refinery is already one of the most energy efficient refineries in Europe, and this investment will further increase energy efficiency by five percent.

The Rotterdam refinery already produces low-sulfur diesel fuel, but with the new hydrocracker unit, production will be further expanded. In addition, ExxonMobil's proprietary hydrocracking technology will allow ExxonMobil to produce EHC™ Group II base stocks in Europe for the first time.

With the startup of EHC™ Group II production in Rotterdam in 2018, ExxonMobil will be the only global producer with significant manufacturing assets strategically located in three continents that are committed to producing both Group I and Group II base stocks.