APIC '10: Total eyes more petchems in Saudi Arabia

14 May 2010 05:23  [Source: ICIS news]

MUMBAI (ICIS news)--Total Petrochemicals is looking to produce more products downstream of its joint-venture refinery project at Al-Jubail, Saudi Arabia, a source close to the company said on Friday.

“They are certainly looking at further petrochemicals production at Jubail,” said the source on the sidelines of the Asia Petrochemicals Industry Conference (APIC) being held in Mumbai.

The 400,000 bbls/day refinery project, executed by Saudi Aramco Total Refining and Petrochemical Co (Satorp), already includes 700,000 tonnes/year of paraxylene (PX), 200,000 tonnes/year of polymer-grade propylene and 140,000 tonnes/year of benzene.

The project is progressing well and was expected to be completed in 2013, he said.

All the PX would be exported at the beginning until derivative plants were built in Jubail, the source added.

“The propylene and benzene are destined to stay in Jubail and Satorp has been through a bidding process to find local consumers,” he added.

Satrop is also expected to supply refinery feedstocks to a cracker project being developed by Saudi Aramco and Dow Chemical. The project - initially planned for Ras Tanura - is likely to be moved to Al-Jubail.

“The move to Jubail has opened up discussions on synergies,” the source added.

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By: Malini Hariharan
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