Asia is expected to witness the highest crude distillation unit (CDU) capacity additions globally contributing about 47% of the total CDU capacity additions by 2026.
GlobalData’s report, ‘Refining Industry Market Installed Capacity and Capital Expenditure (CapEx) Forecast by Region and Countries including details of All Active Plants, Planned and Announced Projects, 2022-2026’, reveals that Asia is likely to witness a total CDU capacity addition of 7.1 million barrels per day (mmbd) by 2026. Of this, new build capacity would be 4.3 mmbd.
GlobalData identifies the Africa as the second highest contributor accounting for about 22% of the total additions by 2026. New build projects contribute to almost entire capacity additions in the region with Lagos I refinery in Nigeria leading the way with a capacity of 650 mbd by 2026. The major expansion project in the region is the Assiut I refinery in Egypt. It is expected to start operations in 2024 with a capacity of 100 mbd.
Middle East ranks third globally contributing about 19% of world’s CDU capacity additions during 2022–2026. Al-Zour in Kuwait drives the new build CDU capacity additions in the region with 615 mbd by 2026.