Topsøe is leading the way with respect to diesel selective in hydrocracking and was selected for the following catalyst reload orders for hydrocracking during 2007 after very nice previous cycles with Topsøe’s hydrocracking catalysts. So far, Topsøe has supplied 20 successful catalyst charges of hydrocracking catalysts in the last 5 years.

Preem AB in Sweden installed an initial charge of Topsøe’s hydrocracking catalysts in June 2003 after providing the license with a Topsøe Process Design Package and Basic Engineering Design. After an outstanding performance with a cycle length of 4 years, Preem AB decided to reload again their hydro-cracker with Tospøe’s hydrocracking catalysts in March 2007. Preem is obtaining very nice middle distillate yields and very good quality of their Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel MK1 and MK2 products with excellent cold flow properties for this special Nordic region.

Petro Piar located in Jose, Venezuela selected again to reload their 55,000 BPD high pressure U16 hydrocracker with Topsøe’s catalysts for next reload in Oct 2008. This hydrocracker was loaded with Topsøe’s catalysts in August 2006 and improved throughput and performance compared to the one obtained with a competitor’s catalyst supplier. Topsøe met all Petro Piar’s objectives to maximise the quality and yields of the total liquid products. Topsøe’s hydrocracking catalysts are showing a very nice stability with HVGO and HCGO with high N & S feeds coming from the very tough Extra Heavy Hamaca Crudes.

Petro Piar, considering this previous success with Topsøe’s hydrocracking catalysts in their U16, selected also to reload their 60,000 BPD high pressure U14 heavy diesel high pressure unit (110 bars) with Topsøe’s hydrocracking catalysts for next change out in October 2008. The main objective of this heavy diesel unit is to furthermore reduce the density and improve the total liquid yields of this Venezuelan refiner.

MOL Danube Refinery in Szazhalombatta, Hungary will also again fully reload their 40,000 BPSD hydrocracking unit in August 2008 after another successful cycle with Topsøe’s hydrocracking catalysts since last purchase in 2005. Topsøe maximised the production of middle distillates and improve the quality of the fractionator bottoms, which is processed in their FCC.

Slovnaft A.S. in Slovakia has just awarded a contract to Topsøe for the supply of a license, reactor internals and a full load of catalyst package to their hydrocracker. The revamp will take place in 2009. This decision was taken after experiencing an excellent performance of Topsøe’s catalysts since 2005.

All catalysts are developed and manufactured by Haldor Topsøe A/S. Topsøe’s research and development work in catalyst acid chemistry resulted in the preparation of these high performance catalysts, where mid-distillates yields are significantly higher than observed with other hydrocracking catalysts. These new generation catalysts are quickly gaining acceptance by refiners worldwide.