SOCAR (the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan) operates two primary oil refineries that are currently undergoing significant transformations in 2026.
1. Heydar Aliyev Oil Refinery (Baku, Azerbaijan)
This is the only refinery in Azerbaijan and is currently in the final stages of a massive multi-year modernization and reconstruction project.
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Status (2026): The modernization is largely complete, with major units having come online in late 2024 and 2025.
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Capacity: The facility is designed to reach an annual processing capacity of 7.5 million tons (approx. 150,000 barrels per day) by 2027.
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Key Goals:
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Fuel Standards: Transitioning production to meet Euro-5 environmental standards for diesel and gasoline.
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Product Range: Producing 15 different products, including jet fuel, LPG, and bitumen, to meet 100% of domestic demand.
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Efficiency: Integrating with the Azerikimya production association to provide a steady supply of chemical feedstocks.
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2. STAR Refinery (Aliaga, Turkey)
Located in western Turkey, the STAR refinery is one of SOCAR’s most strategic international assets and is highly integrated with the Petkim petrochemical complex.
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Capacity: Recently increased from 10 million to 13 million tons per year following optimization and “turnaround” maintenance completed in late 2024/early 2025.
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Market Impact: It now meets approximately 19.5% of Turkey’s total demand for processed petroleum products.
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Recent Performance (Jan 2026): Recent data shows a massive surge in jet fuel production (up nearly 19x year-over-year in late 2025) and significant increases in diesel output.
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Future Investment: SOCAR has announced plans for an additional $7 billion investment in new petrochemical facilities (polyethylene/polypropylene) at the site, with design phases concluding in December 2026.