Aramco and Rongsheng explore new opportunities in Saudi Arabia and China
Cooperation framework agreement paves way for new downstream partnerships
Dhahran: Aramco is exploring the formation of a joint venture in the Saudi Aramco Jubail Refinery Company (SASREF) with Chinese partner Rongsheng Petrochemical Co. Ltd. (Rongsheng) and significant investments in the Saudi and Chinese petrochemical sectors, in partnership with Rongsheng.
The company recently signed a cooperation framework agreement that envisions Rongsheng’s potential acquisition of a 50 per cent stake in SASREF. The agreement also lays the groundwork for the development of a liquids-to-chemicals expansion project at SASREF, in addition to Aramco’s potential acquisition of a 50 per cent stake in Rongsheng affiliate Ningbo Zhongjin Petrochemical Co. Ltd. (ZJPC) and participation in ZJPC’s expansion project.
In July 2023, Aramco acquired a 10 per cent interest in Rongsheng through its subsidiary Aramco Overseas Company BV, based in the Netherlands. Rongsheng, in turn, owns a 100 per cent equity interest in ZJPC, which operates an aromatics production complex and has an interest in a joint venture that produces purified terephthalic acid.
Mohammed Y. Al Qahtani, Aramco Downstream President, said: “These discussions highlight our ambition to advance our liquids-to-chemicals strategy with strategic partner Rongsheng, both in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and China. In building on our existing relationship, we aim to advance our expansion in a key geography and attract new investment to the Saudi downstream sector.”