Petro Rabigh to focus on fast-growing markets of China, India

Rabigh Refining and Petrochemical Co (Petro Rabigh) plans to focus on the fast-growing markets of China and India as it undergoes expansion of its complex. The expansion plans are part of a US$10 bln (?.8 bln) development plan, as reported in Dimensions International. Saudi Aramco and Sumitomo Chemical awarded a feasibility study contract for the Phase II project to Japanese engineering and construction company JGC Corp last year, which was due to be completed in October this year.

The Petro Rabigh complex currently houses a 1.3 mln tpa ethane cracker, a 300,000 tpa high density PE (HDPE) line, a 600,000 tpa linear low density PE (LLDPE) facility, a 700,000 tpa polypropylene (PP) plant and a 600,000 tpa monoethylene glycol (MEG) plant. Under the Phase II expansion project, Petro Rabigh would produce 2.5 mln tpa of ethylene and propylene-based derivatives, including ethylene, polyethylene (PE), propylene, polypropylene (PP), propylene oxide and mono ethylene glycol.

Petro Rabigh will de-bottleneck its ethane cracker at its existing refinery facility to produce an additional 300,000 tpa of ethylene. Among the new units planned are a 2,500-3,000 tpa naphtha reformer, which could produce 200-400 tpa of benzene and 800-850 tpa of paraxylene (PX), and a 90-120 tpa low density polyethylene (LDPE) line. The company would also produce more than 18 mln tpa of petroleum-based products.