Skip to main content

Sulphur 423 Mar-Apr 2026

23 March 2026

Completion of refinery upgrade

CROATIA

Completion of refinery upgrade

Maire Group subsidiary KT-Kinetics Technology says that it has completed work on the Rijeka Refinery Upgrade Project in Croatia, having completed the engineering, procurement and construction activities. The scope of work included a new delayed coking unit to process heavy residue and eliminate the production of fuel oil while increasing refinery efficiency capacity, the revamping of the process units and the utility network and the implementation of the latest solutions for coke handling and storage and sea jetty construction and shipping loading facilities.

The project was executed across a period marked by major global events, including the Covid-19 pandemic and the geopolitical developments related to the RussianUkrainian conflict. In this context, the works progressed thanks to a high level of flexibility, strong coordination and close cooperation among all stakeholders.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Alessandro Bernini, CEO of Maire commented: “We are proud of this milestone, which marks an important step in strengthening Croatia’s energy infrastructure as well as enhancing the efficiency and environmental performance of the Rijeka Refinery. We are also thrilled we were able to contribute a significant value creation for the Country by involving numerous Croatian companies, thus supporting the development of local capabilities that will benefit both the domestic market and export activities.”

Also present at the opening ceremony were Ante Šušnjar, the Croatian Minister of the Economy, Zsuzsanna Ortutay, president of INA, József Molnár, CEO of MOL Group, and Levente Magyar, the Hungarian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Latest in Europe

Gazprom and PhosAgro sign new five-year sulphur deal

Russian gas producer Gazprom and fertilizer giant PhosAgro have signed a new five-year agreement for the supply of sulphur, according to a report from Interfax on 5 June. The deal, signed at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), will see Gazprom continue to supply the key raw material for PhosAgro’s phosphate fertilizer production. The document was signed by Gazprom Deputy Chairman Vitaly Markelov and PhosAgro CEO Alexander Gilgenberg.

Gouda Refractories Group acquires Revestimientos Refractarios

Gouda Refractories Group has acquired Revestimientos Refractarios (RR), based in Madrid. Founded in 1979, RR specialises in the installation of refractory materials, serving customers across a wide range of industries, including petrochemicals, (waste to) energy, cement, and other industrial sectors. It is a trusted partner for the installation of refractory materials, hexmesh, anchoring, engineering, technical assistance, project management, inspections and supervision for shutdowns and turnarounds across the European Union. The company has a long history of cooperation with Gouda Refractories, which has intensified in recent years and which, due to a natural moment of succession, has led to this acquisition.

Waste to energy demonstration plant completed

Compact Syngas Solutions (CSS) says that it has completed work on a government funded demonstration project which aims to be “the next generation of waste-to-energy plants”. The new £4 million ($5.4 million) MicroHub plant, developed as part of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s (DESNZ) Hydrogen BECCS Innovation Programme, produces hydrogen and electricity from biogenic waste while capturing carbon emissions using water scrubbing. Unlike traditional methods that use chemical solvents like amines, CSS’s system uses water to remove carbon dioxide from syngas, which the company says is a safer and more sustainable solution.

NextChem completes Ballestra acquisition

MaireGroup says that its NextChem subsidiary has completed the acquisition of the Ballestra group, a leading player in the licensing, design and engineering of processing plants, as well as in the supply of proprietary technologies and equipment for the chemical industry. NextChem says that the integration of Ballestra significantly strengthens its technology portfolio in phosphate and potassium fertilizers and completes its coverage of the full NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) spectrum. At the same time, it provides access to new segments with high growth potential, particularly in chemistry for the production and circularity of strategic materials needed to develop and expand electrification, where Nextchem is already present with metals recovery technologies following the recent acquisition of ETEK.