The refinery uses water to generate steam that is used to control the temperature of the processes. Most of the consumption is done in a closed circuit. The increase in salinity causes the electrical conductivity of the make-up water purchased from OSE to rise, and the corrosion processes of the boiler pipes are accelerated.
In this scenario, the president of the entity, Alejandro Stipanicic, affirmed in radio statements that suspending the operation of the refinery is being evaluated given the damage that could be generated to the equipment. It is a possibility that is on the table if the admissible thresholds for the industrial process were exceeded.
To avoid this, different technical alternatives are analyzed, such as bringing water from the Uruguay River from Colonia transported by barge to the refinery dock. The company uses about 200,000 liters of water per hour.
In this sense, the vice president of Ancap, Diego Durand, said this Monday that the company will install a Water Treatment Unit (UPA) in the refinery so as not to affect its operation, after an agreement with OSE, according to what he told radio station El Espectador.
