Repsol YPF

History

The Cartagena industrial complex, with an approximate extension of 180 ha, is situated in Murcia, inside the Valle de Escombreras, in the municipal of Cartagena. 

The first refinery of the peninsula, its construction was initiated in the forties under the name Refinería de Petróleo de Escombreras, SA (REPESA). Its initial capacity was of  1.2 million tonnes annually, and was finished in 1950.

Since its creation and until 1980, we highlight the increase in distillation capacity that grew to 11 million tonnes a year.  Also, in the year 1967, the lubricants business was started. From 1980 to 1990, the distillation capacity was reduced to 5 million tonnes per year.  Nevertheless speciality businesses were developed in: asphalts, paraffins and aromatic extracts. 

From 1990 to 2000 the environmental plants were installed, in 1992 the sulfur plants, in 1990 and 1996 that of Efluentes, in 1996 Deballasting and in 1993 Cogeneration (40 Mw). 

From the year 2000 to the present, the most noticable development is the inauguration of the Cartagena-Puertollano Pipeline (2000), the new specifications of petrols and gas-oils, the increases in the desulfurization capacity (2001 and 2004), the elimination of benzene in petrols (2000) and the increase in hydrogen recovery (2001).