Unit 21 Back Online
The Homs refinery returned its Unit 21 to production on 9 June 2026, restoring a processing line with a design capacity of roughly 1.7 million tons per year. The unit, known locally as the "Czech unit," restarted after a comprehensive maintenance campaign that touched its main equipment.
Scope of the Overhaul
Crews serviced the unit's primary and secondary distillation towers and repaired its furnace, the core components that separate crude oil into usable fractions. They also maintained precision instruments and the unit's pumps before bringing it back on stream.
Four heat-exchanger bundles were fabricated once a shipment of copper piping arrived, and two air-cooler bundles were manufactured to complete the rehabilitation.
Fuels for Daily Use
The restored unit produces naphtha, kerosene, gasoil, and fuel oil. Those derivatives feed transport, household heating, and electricity generation, making the line's output directly relevant to everyday supply across the country.
Wider Refinery Operations
With Unit 21 running, the refinery now operates six production units, among them two atmospheric distillation units together with gasoline-production lines. The additional unit raises the volume of derivatives the plant can supply.
General manager Khalid Abdel-Karim and production manager Firas Ali oversaw the return to service.
Focus on Local Supply
Officials said the restart is aimed at strengthening supplies of petroleum derivatives for the domestic market. The refinery framed the work as part of efforts to keep its productive units in service and expand the fuel available to consumers.