El Ciudadano
Original article: Cuba responde al bloqueo imperialista: refinería procesa crudo nacional y obtiene combustibles clave
In response to the imperialist blockade imposed by the United States (U.S.), Cuba is advancing the processing of national crude oil through the Hermanos Díaz Oil Refinery to produce essential fuels.
The workforce at this refinery, located in Santiago de Cuba, successfully modified facilities that previously refined heavy crude imported to the island before the restrictions implemented by President Donald Trump’s administration.
Since 1962, Washington has imposed a series of economic, commercial, and financial sanctions, which were further intensified by an executive order signed on January 29 by the Republican magnate, banning the total entry of oil into Cuba.
This decision, justified on the grounds that Havana poses a threat to U.S. national security, allowed for tariffs on goods from countries selling or supplying oil to the Caribbean nation.
This measure has not only disrupted the daily lives of Cubans, causing power outages lasting up to 20 hours a day, but has also severely impacted sensitive sectors such as health, food, and the physical well-being of the population.
According to Irene Barbado Lucio, general director of the refinery, which belongs to the Cuba-Petroleum Union (Cupet) and is one of four facilities processing heavy oil in the country, the modification of the installations made it possible to «run» the national crude.
In statements to Granma, she noted that through processing the hydrocarbon, byproducts have been made available to support key strategic sectors.
“Previously, we were able to process imported heavy crude using a solvent to bring it to 16 degrees API (which measures hydrocarbon density), allowing it to be converted into medium crude, since our industry was designed for lighter crude; however, we didn’t expect to do this with national oil,” highlighted engineer Víctor Manuel Díaz Despaigne, leader of the multidisciplinary team that implemented this technological innovation.
Barbado revealed plans for another «run» of national crude, “as part of the ongoing improvement of industrial processes, which intensifies with this type of oil, to achieve quality derivatives while ensuring environmental care.”
Thermoconversion to Enhance Properties of Heavy Crude
She recalled that this process is being developed alongside the efforts of the Oil Research Center, focusing on thermoconversion, “characterized by extensive study and experimentation.”
This process allows for the improvement of properties of heavy and extra-heavy crude that is currently in high availability in Cuba, known for its high density, viscosity, and sulfur content.
Through thermoconversion, it is possible to reduce the viscosity of crude without needing to mix it with other compounds and solvents, which are scarce on the island due to the U.S. blockade.
Engineer Irenaldo Pérez Cardoso, deputy director of Cupet, indicated plans to install a pilot plant at the Sergio Soto refinery in Sancti Spíritus province to leverage the site’s water, steam, and electricity levels, as well as the expertise of its team, who have been processing this crude since 2010.
The implementation of this innovation also includes a second phase aimed at catalytic development to reduce the sulfur content typical of Cuban crude.
In recent statements, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez stated, “We broke a misconception, a taboo in the country, that national crude could not be refined, that it could not be used for other purposes, and it was practically condemned to be used directly in a group of thermoelectric plants.”
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