Aramco, ExxonMobil, Samref to upgrade Samref refinery

The signing ceremony

ExxonMobil, Aramco and Samref signed a Venture Framework Agreement (VFA) to evaluate a significant upgrade of the Samref refinery, in Yanbu, and an expansion of the facility into an integrated petrochemical complex.

The companies will explore capital investments to upgrade and diversify production, including high-quality distillates that result in lower emissions and high-performance chemicals, as well as opportunities to improve the refinery’s energy efficiency and reduce emissions from operations through an integrated emissions-reduction strategy, according to a press statement.

The companies will commence a preliminary front-end engineering and design phase for the proposed project, which would aim to maximize operational advantages, enhance Samref’s competitiveness and help to meet growing demand for high-quality petrochemical products in the Kingdom, it added.

The upgrade plans are subject to market conditions, regulatory approvals and final investment decisions by Aramco and ExxonMobil.

Samref currently has the capacity to process more than 400,000 barrels of crude oil per day, producing a diverse range of energy products including propane, automotive diesel oil, marine heavy fuel oil, and sulphur.