Baghdad: The Ministry of Oil announced the imminent end of the gasoline crisis in Baghdad and the provinces, with the commencement of the gradual operation of the Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) unit at the Karbala refinery.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Ministry spokesman Salim al-Rikabi explained in a statement to the official news agency that technical staff have begun implementing the scheduled operation plan, which will take approximately three months to reach the unit’s maximum production capacity of 55,000 barrels per day.

Al-Rikabi stated that among the most significant expected production gains upon full operation is the production of approximately 5 million liters per day of high-octane gasoline, bolstering domestic supply and reducing imports. Additionally, the refinery will provide approximately 7 million liters per day of hydrogenated, low-sulfur gas oil that meets environmental standards. He also noted that there are additional supplies of 3 million liters per day of gas oil from the Shuaiba refinery, bringing the total to 10 million liters, along with the provision of 400 tons per day of cooking gas.

The ministry also revealed strategic plans to expand national refining capacity, including the addition of two new refining units with a capacity of 70,000 barrels per day each at the Diwaniyah and Maysan refineries, as part of efforts to achieve self-sufficiency in petroleum products.