Riyadh – Mubasher: Saudi Aramco and France’s Total are discussing the establishment of a mixed-feed cracker and derivatives in Jubail with a capacity of 1.5 million tonnes per year, Reuters quoted industry sources as saying.
Feedstock for the plant will be provided from Aramco-Total mutual refining venture SATORP, which operates 400,000 barrels a day, and Aramco-Dow Chemical joint venture Sadara, according to the agency.
Saudi Arabia is currently short of gas supplies, despite its extensive reserves; hence, the Kingdom is urging the sector to take on a diversification and include more liquid feedstock.
Aramco had declined to comment on the matter to Reuters, while a Total spokeswoman stated: “It is consistent with our strategy of investing in our major integrated refining and chemicals platform and capitalising on advantaged feedstock,” commenting on the company’s interest in “developing petrochemicals units downstream of SATORP”.
Saudi Aramco acquires a 62.5% stake in SATORP, while France’s Total owns 37.5%.
