At Pernis Refinery, our commitment to maximizing yield and efficiency extends beyond distillation. With advanced Catalytic Cracking technologies, including Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) and Hydrocracking, we extract even greater value from every barrel of crude. These essential secondary refining processes allow us to convert heavy fractions into lighter, more commercially valuable fuels—cleaner, faster, and smarter.

What Is Catalytic Cracking?

After crude oil undergoes primary distillation, the heavier fractions left behind still contain untapped potential. Through catalytic cracking, we break down these large hydrocarbon molecules into lighter, more usable products such as:

• High-octane gasoline
• Jet fuel
• Diesel
• Petrochemical feedstocks

By applying heat, pressure, catalysts, and in the case of hydrocracking, hydrogen, we restructure these molecules into fuels with higher commercial demand and improved environmental profiles.

Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC)

FCC is one of the cornerstones of modern refining. At Pernis Refinery, our FCC units are built for high capacity, low emissions, and optimized selectivity.

Here’s how it works:

• Heavy gas oil is pre-heated and introduced into a reactor with a fine powder catalyst.
• The catalyst cracks the large molecules into smaller ones in seconds.
• The catalyst is then regenerated and reused, making the process efficient and continuous.

FCC Outputs Include:

• Gasoline blending components
• Propylene and butylene (for petrochemicals)
• Light cycle oils
• Fuel gas

With our FCC technology, Pernis Refinery enhances volume gain while reducing waste, ensuring both economic and environmental value.

Hydrocracking: Clean Fuels from Heavy Feeds

Whereas FCC works without hydrogen, hydrocracking brings in high-pressure hydrogen gas and dual-function catalysts to process heavier feedstocks. The result is a cleaner, more flexible product mix.

Hydrocracking is ideal for:

• Producing ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD)
• Generating jet fuel and kerosene
• Feeding naphtha into petrochemical plants

Thanks to our state-of-the-art hydrocrackers, we achieve:

• High conversion rates
• Excellent product control
• Enhanced removal of sulfur and nitrogen

This makes hydrocracking essential to meeting both market expectations and environmental standards.

Why It Matters

Refining doesn’t stop at distillation—it evolves. With catalytic cracking, Pernis Refinery:

• Extends the value chain of crude oil
• Meets modern fuel quality standards
• Reduces carbon-intensive residues
• Supports petrochemical production

By implementing both FCC and hydrocracking, we stay agile across fuel markets and petrochemical sectors, delivering products that are cleaner, more efficient, and better aligned with the energy demands of tomorrow.

Powered by Precision and Insight

Our cracking units are supported by advanced control systems that:

• Monitor temperatures, flow rates, and catalyst activity in real time
• Optimize energy input for peak efficiency
• Reduce emissions through integrated environmental controls

This allows us to adapt to different crude slates, adjust product output based on market demand, and uphold our commitment to operational excellence.

A Circular Approach to Energy

At Pernis Refinery, innovation meets responsibility. Our catalytic cracking processes are part of a wider strategy for sustainable refining. This includes:

• Hydrogen reuse and recovery
• Waste heat recovery systems
• Sulfur and nitrogen removal technologies

Together, these systems reduce the carbon intensity of every product we create—without compromising performance.

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Transforming heavy into light. Turning potential into performance.
That’s catalytic cracking at Pernis Refinery.