Equinor converting Norway refinery to low-carbon hub

Equinor has contracted Aker Solutions for a feasibility study on converting the 240,000-bpd Mongstad refinery into a low-carbon hub that will produce blue hydrogen and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), Aker announced last week.

The Mongstad Industrial Transformation project involves constructing a greenfield blue hydrogen facility, developing a carbon capture and export solution, and building a plant to convert municipal solid waste to SAF, as well as reducing CO2 emissions from the refinery.

“We are excited to support Equinor on this truly transformational study, maximizing industrial synergies to produce low-carbon solutions and sustainable fuels at a time when decarbonization is very high on the agenda,” said Roddy Macpherson, senior vice-president of consultancy at Aker Solutions.

Mongstad is Norway’s largest refinery and is fully owned by Equinor. Its initial construction took place in the 1970s, with first production in 1975. The site also features a gas-fired power plant and a crude oil terminal with a storage capacity of 9.5 million barrels.

Image courtesy of Norske Petroleum.