Project Profile
Value: 2.7 billion turnover in 2014
Location: District of Dithmarschen, Germany
Capacity: 4.5 million tons annually
Storage Capacity: 550,000 cubic metres
Start-up year: 2000 (expansion project)
Refinery Heide GmbH – a refining plant of the Klesch Group – is located in the district of Dithmarschen. It disposes of a crude oil processing capacity of 4.5 million tons annually and thus would be able to cover the entire demand for mineral oil in Schleswig-Holstein. Heide produces classical mineral oil products such as all grades of petrol, diesel fuel and aviation fuel. Furthermore, it produces light heating oil as well as important basic substances for the chemical industry. Oil drilling in Dithmarschen has a long tradition and dates back to the year 1856. As of 1935 oil recovery in the Heide oil field became profitable and reached its peak during World War II. In 1940 and 1941 the first processing facilities at the Hemmingstedt site started operations _ with an annual capacity of approximately 200,000 tons. After disastrous destruction the facilities were reconstructed after the war. The need for mineral oil products increased during the following years. Hence it became necessary to expand existing facilities and to construct new ones. In 1952 a modern Thermofor Catalytic Cracking (TCC) unit was put into operation – in those days the first of its kind in Germany. From then on the refinery was able to produce greater volumes of fuel. Between 1954 and 1958 during a second expansion stage new units were created increasing the crude oil processing capacity and enhancing product quality. These innovations enabled the refinery to enter the petrochemical industry. After further expansion of the refinery and as of 1973 5.6 million tons of crude were processed annually.
Between 1974 and 1986 the oil price crisis forced Refinery Heide to shut down distillation units and to decrease its annual processing capacity to 4 million tons. As of 1994/95 two new power plant boilers optimized the power supply of the refinery. By investing in burner technology and waste gas purification, the refinery fulfilled growing demands to protect the environment. In the mid-90s Raffinerie Heide also felt the impact of external factors such as over capacity and increasing environmental protection requirements. Due to the economic downturn an extensive concept to restructure and to erect new units was developed. In that process priority was given to the replacement of the almost 50-year-old TCC unit by a hydrocracker. Approximately €250 million were set aside for that. In 1998 modernisation of the refinery began. Following a two-year construction period, the new units went into operation in mid-2000.
The plant produces not only petrol, diesel fuel and heating oil but also aviation fuel and heavy oil for ships. Along with base material for fertilisers, substances for the petrochemical industry and petrochemical semi-finished products are also produced. Refinery Heide processes 4.5 million tons of crude into end products and into semi-finished substances for the chemical industry, among others. Approximately 600,000 tons annually are allotted to petrol, about 1.7 million tons to diesel fuel, heating oil and aviation turbine fuel, about 800,000 tons to heavy oil. Approximately 500,000 tons are used for petrochemicals and petrochemical semi-finished products. Miscellaneous products require 550,000 tons and 350,000 tons cover our own needs. The refinery employs 500 professionals.
Operators:
Klesch Group: Operator with 100% interest