On March 13, the 69-meter-long, 216-ton deisobutanizer tower was successfully hoisted at the 200KTA MTBE project site of Arzew Refinery in Algeria, which is under EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) contract by the company. This milestone marks the installation of the heaviest single-piece equipment in the entire project.

Fabricated in China, the equipment arrived at the site on February 15 after a complex logistics journey involving sea freight and overland transport. Despite challenges such as interference between the equipment foundation and the existing 30kV power cables, port congestion, and rerouting of critical cables, the project team demonstrated exceptional coordination. They balanced parallel tasks including pipeline insulation, structural assembly, and timely delivery of platform stairs and railings. By mobilizing subcontractors to work around the clock, the team completed the tower’s insulation, cladding, and auxiliary installations in just 8 days, ensuring a seamless hoisting process.

The event was witnessed by Mr. Amara, Director of the Refining and Petrochemical Division at Sonatrach, the owner’s project manager, representatives from the consortium partners, key subcontractors, and stakeholders.

With vertical heat exchangers and PSA adsorption tanks already delivered, the project is now transitioning to a phase of concurrent installation work involving towers, steel structures, and pipelines.