Adnoc's refinery capacity has been expanded significantly during the last 30 years.

In the early years, refined products were purchased or obtained from crude oil processing arrangements in overseas refineries such as Singapore.

Abu Dhabi's first refinery was commissioned in 1976 at Umm Al Nar (15,000 barrels per day (bpd)). It has subsequently been expanded twice: in 1983 to 60,000 bpd crude processing capacity and then in 1993 to its present capacity of 85,000 bpd.

Since then it has operated steadily at more than 90,000 bpd. Highly advanced Process Automation and Control Systems (PACS) monitor and control the entire refinery operations, including providing data for the Management Information Systems.

In 1990, the salt and chlorine plant was merged into the Umm Al Nar operations. Most of the refined oil products and feedstocks from Umm Al Nar are distributed within Abu Dhabi and some of the Northern Emirates.

Adnoc's sales of products into the international oil markets increased significantly in 1981 when the Ruwais Refinery was commissioned with a design capacity of 120,000 bpd. For many years, Ruwais Refinery has consistently processed more than 140,000 bpd. The refinery output was increased in value through investment in a hydrocracker complex (30,000 bpd) in 1985.

The combined Umm Al Nar and Ruwais Refinery capacity of 225,000 bpd was more than doubled in 2000 with the commissioning of two 140,000 bpd condensate splitter units to process onshore Thamama and Asab condensate obtained from gas development projects.

In 1999 the Abu Dhabi Oil Refining Company (Takreer) was formally established to take over the responsibility of Adnoc's oil refining operations. Takreer is also responsible for operating and expanding the Ruwais General Utilities Plant (GUP) to meet the growing demand of the Ruwais Complex and the local community in that area.

Takreer is already producing unleaded gasoline, in line with Adnoc's commitment to a clean and healthy environment. It is now actively planning a new major project to convert the bulk of gasoline production to unleaded gasoline and to reduce the sulphur content of its diesel fuels.

This project is scheduled for completion in 2005. The removal of more sulphur from oil products and gas, combined with the increased volumes being processed, has resulted in the rapid expansion of Takreer's sulphur granulation and export facilities to a capacity of 6,250 tonnes per day (tpd).

For the future, Takreer has launched a Profit Improvement Programme to achieve a pacesetters' performance. Also, a study is being planned to highlight the need for additional facilities such as new berth(s), product tanks, lines, pumping facilities etc. to ensure smooth, safe and economic operations once expansion plans are implemented and to ensure customer satisfaction.