€15 million steam-turbine upgrade progresses to commissioning
Croatian oil company INA has completed mechanical work on a €15 million steam-turbine upgrade at its Rijeka refinery. The project is now moving towards commissioning after the mechanical completion phase. The new installation uses back-pressure steam turbines equipped with generators.
The back-pressure design is intended to enable the refinery to recover more energy from steam already used in its industrial processes. INA said the turbines are part of an efficiency-focused upgrade within the refinery’s broader modernization programme.
Timeline for trial operation and commissioning
Mechanical completion was achieved at the end of August, around five weeks ahead of the contractual schedule. Trial operation and commissioning with process medium were scheduled to begin in September. This sequence keeps the project aligned with the planned transition from mechanical works to operational testing.
Once operational, INA expects the turbines to reduce steam consumption and lower internal energy costs. The company also expects additional electricity generation for use at the refinery.
Energy efficiency, emissions and regulatory alignment
Alongside changes in steam use and power generation, INA expects a corresponding decline in carbon dioxide emissions. The upgrade supports compliance with Croatia’s Energy Efficiency Act. It forms part of wider modernization efforts at Rijeka.
INA teams implemented the upgrade with external contractors, including Siemens Energy. The investment level was described as relatively small compared with the refinery’s broader modernization programme, while targeting persistent cost pressures tied to existing energy systems.
