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CHAPTER THREE
Arab And World Developments
design. The configuration will be the same as the current same-size
splitter. Qatar Petroleum is also tendering for an aromatics plant at
the site to produce benzene, toluene, and xylene.
LaffanRefineryCompany signed also an engineering, procurement
and construction (EPC) contract with Samsung Engineering Co. for
a diesel hydrotreater unit capable of processing 54,000 b/d of diesel
produced at its existing and new refinery. This project forms part
of Qatar’s national vision for securing petroleum products supplies
for the country that meeting the most stringent environmental
specifications – Euro 5. The planned start-up of the project would be
in the first quarter of 2014 at a cost of around $96 million.
2-7 Saudi Arabia
Saudi Aramco made remarkable progress in many key projects
aiming to expand its downstream industry sector at a total cost of $
50-60 billion.
The Al-Jubail new refinery project, undertaken by Saudi Aramco
and Total Refining & Petrochemical Company (SATORP), a joint
venture owned by Saudi Aramco (62.5%) and Total (37.5%) at a cost
of $12 billion, is expected to start up operation in 2013.
Al-Jubail refinery was designed to refine heavy crude from Safania
and Manifa field of Saudi Arabia. The refinery, which has a capacity
of 400,000 b/d, is characterized by high complexity, as the middle
distillate production ratio will reach 55% and 22% of gasoline at
the expense of heavy products, in addition to huge quantities of
petrochemical products.
Saudi Aramco and Chinese state firm Sinopec held the official
signing ceremony for their 400,000 b/d joint venture export refinery