Total select Axens technology for hydro desulfurisation unit at Donges refinery in France

Total has selected Axens VGO HDS technology for its new vacuum gasoil (VGO) hydro desulfurisation unit at the French Donges refinery.

Designed to process around 40,000 bpd (barrels per day), the new unit would allow Total to produce low sulfur fuels meeting the evolution of EU specifications.

Axens has proposed an optimised process scheme for the Donges project which has been adapted to the existing refinery environment in specific.

The company also incorporated Total’s requirements in terms of energy efficiency as well as operational flexibility.

According to Axens, VGO HDS technology is part of the company’s portfolio in the field of middle distillates, VGO hydrotreating and hydroconversion.

In April, Total announced a €400m investment to upgrade the Donges refinery in a bid to capture profitable new markets.

As part of its plans, Total said it will build refining units at Donges that would go together with the rerouting of an existing rail line.

To ensure new markets for the site, the project covered construction of a new desulfurisation unit for intermediate feedstock that is used to produce low-sulfur fuels.

In addition, a steam methane reformer (SMR) was planned to be built to produce hydrogen needed for the desulfurisation unit.