Caspian Energy (CE): Mr. Pashayev, the GPP is a flagman of the gas processing industry of Azerbaijan. Could you please tell about this year achievements? 

Agshin Pashayev, Director, Gas Processing Plant (GPP): The Gas Processing Plant as one of the structural units of the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) has been operating for almost 53 years.

The main objective of the SOCAR-run Gas Processing Plant is to process produced natural gas, gas condensate and the broad fraction of light hydrocarbons using brand-new equipment and technologies aimed at production of competitive output.

This year (IQ) 903.3 million cubic metres of crude gas was sent for processing to the Gas Processing Plant (GPP). The volume of dry gas after processing amounted to 888.2 million cubic metres. Since the beginning of the current year processing losses per one thousand cubic metres of gas made 1.1 cubic metres, it is 4 times down the scheduled level. The volume of combusted fuel gas combusted per one thousand cubic metres of natural gas made 12.6 cubic metres, which complies with the norms and actual data for the correspondent similar period of the last year. 

In IQ 2014 13,531 tonnes of unstable natural gasoline was produced from the total amount of crude gas supplied to the GPP for processing. Within the reported period 13,502 tonnes of unstable natural gasoline was handed for processing to produce liquid products. The amount of commercial butane and natural gasoline produced at the GPP comprised 5,818 tonnes and 7,619 tonnes respectively. 

80.1% of practical processing capacity was used during IQ 2014. In 2013 irreparable losses during the storage of end products in reservoirs made 151.3 tonnes, which is 285.7 tonnes below the estimated norm.

Serious control is exercised over systematic implementation of major repair, construction and installation works with intention to improve the condition of process units and equipment operated at the refinery and the technical condition of workrooms. In IQ the major construction work programme spent 130,000 AZN. According to this programme, construction work within the project ‘Construction of a pump unit for supplying water to the cooling system’ (relocation of the pump unit on the seacoast to a new site) is in process as per schedule. 

CE:   What kind of importance is attached at the plant to the environmental and social issues?

Agshin Pashayev: Within the framework of the environment protection measures aimed at prevention of pollution, metal structures awaiting erosion and worthless parts of old constructions are taken to a designated area whereupon they are turned in. Necessary measures are undertaken for reduction of discharge of hydrocarbon gases into the air from process furnaces, boiler flues, burning torches, ventilation facilities, joints of process lines, safety valves, etc. Sources of pollution emerging as a result of production processes are fully neutralized within the area of the plant. Measures are undertaken for sites cleaning and improvement. All production wastes are sorted and placed on closed sites, designated in the area of the plant, in order to prevent environmental pollution by wastes emerging during production processes. Later these wastes are handed over to the “Center of wastes” of SOCAR Ecology Department. 

No accident resulting in injury or an emergency case was fixed at the plant in the period under review. Due importance was attached to improvement of labor conditions, securing of appropriate control over observance of safety rules, accident-free and safe operation of running equipment, setting of safety techniques in accordance with the requirements of the “single system”, upgrading of production sites, buildings and working places in accordance with world standards. All necessary measures are undertaken for prevention of accidents, injuries during production, improvement of labor conditions, reception of protective clothing, shoes and other protecting means, supply of milk to those who work in hazardous conditions. 

The actual quantity of employees of the GPP totaled 696 people as of April 1, 2014. A salary worth 1.5 mln AZN was paid to the workers within three months of this year. 

The issues of improvement of social conditions of workers, rational spending of their leisure time and rest are also in the center of attention. 

Financial compensation worth 97.5 thousand AZN was paid to workers in the first quarter of 2014 to cover expenses on daily meals. Material aid worth 22.1 thousand AZN was paid in the period under review.