Gulf refining capacity to touch 10m bpd by 2015

Abu Dhabi: The Gulf region's refining capacity will grow by about 3 million barrels per day (bpd) to about 10 million bpd by 2015 to help meet the region's burgeoning demand for oil products, said a senior executive of Saudi Aramco.

"We are clearly focused on the downstream as the area of greatest potential for future growth and impact, and indeed, I believe the entire Gulf is set to enter a golden age when it comes to downstream activities," said Aramco executive vice-president of operations Khalid A. Al Falih.

He said in 2008 and 2009, the Gulf region will add more than 20 million tonnes per year of chemicals to its production base.

At present, Saudi Aramco is working towards raising its domestic and international refining capacity to 3.2 million barrels per day from around 2.4 million bpd, by 2013.

Saudi Aramco has stakes in the Motiva Enterprises' Port Arthur refinery, which is nearly doubling its capacity, and in a Fujian, China, refinery, which is tripling output. Within Saudi Arabia, Aramco is doubling the capacity of its Ras Tanura refinery to nearly 1 million barrels per day and building joint-venture export-oriented refineries in Jubail and Yanbu.

On-stream

Each of these refineries is expected to go on-stream in 2012 and will have 400,000 bpd capacity.

Saudi Arabia, the largest producer and exporter of crude oil in the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, is experiencing increased domestic demand for all types of refined products, especially gasoline and fuel oil.

To keep pace, Saudi Aramco made the decision to expand its refining capacity to help ensure adequate supplies for oil products.