Downstream news update: Middle East

Libya

Protesters calling for salaries have targeted a major refinery in Western Libya, stopping the loading of trucks carrying fuel to the capital.

The protesters, believed to be rebel fighters, closed the front gate of the120 000 bpd Zawiyah refinery for several hours. However, refining operations were not affected.

Oman

The Sohar based aromatic plant of Oman Refineries and Petrochemical Industries Company (Orpic) has attained record levels in benzene and paraxylene production, which has grown 51% compared to the last three year’s average production.

Production at the plant, which was constructed in 2009, has now reached 93 000 t.

Pakistan

Pakistan and China are to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the establishment of an oil storage facility, an oil refinery and distribution plants for the transmission of oil and gas to western regions of China from Gwadar.

Both parties have agreed to establish a joint working group, formulating a long term plan for the China-Pakistan economy corridor and promoting infrastructure and economic zones development between the countries. 

Saudi Arabia

Investments into Saudi Arabia’s petrochemicals sector have reached SR 3.6 trillion, rendering the kingdom a primary source of material for related products such as packaging and plastic; domestic plastics production alone was 1.7 million t last year. Saudi Arabia additionally holds a 70% share of the Gulf market in packaging.

Also in Saudi Arabia, Veolia Environnement, Europe’s largest water company, has won a contract to build a desalination plant that will supply the Sadara petrochemical complex built by Dow Chemical Co. and Saudi Arabian Oil Co. in Jubail.

The new plant, which will use ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis technologies, will have a capacity of 178 000 m³/d and start production in June 2015.

Yemen

Yemen’s Aden Refinery Company has bought 600 000 t of high sulfur gasoil for delivery over July – September.

The refinery bought 10 cargoes of 60 000 t each of 0.5% sulfur from Kuwait’s Independent Petroleum Group, traders Trafigura, Vitol, Energen and Horizon Energy.

Edited from various sources by Emma McAleavey

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/gas-processing/04072013/middle_east_downstream_news_update_460/