Pemex to start Salamanca refinery upgrade in 2012

Mexican oil firm Pemex is to start upgrading its Salamanca refinery in 2012 to cut Mexico’s petrol imports.

The Salamanca refinery, which is located in central Mexico, has a processing capacity of 245,000 barrels per day, reports Reuters.

The upgrade works will allow Pemex to increase its diesel and petrol production, and reduce its fuel oil output.

The work includes the construction of a 44,000bpd coking plant and hydro-desulphurisation plants, with an investment of more than $3bn.

The firm will also build a new refinery with a processing capacity of 300,000bpd in the state of Hidalgo, which is expected to begin operations in 2016.