Optimism runs high for Satorp refinery in Saudi Arabia
Total lauds the economic strengths of its new Saudi Arabian complex while troubles in Europe mount
The new Total (37.5%) and Saudi Aramco (62.5%) refinery at Jubail reached its full capacity of 400,000 barrels a day (b/d) in August, after a marathon 11-month commissioning programme. Total says the $12 billion investment by the venture, Saudi Aramco Total Refining and Petrochemical Company (Satorp), will benefit from strong economics - and it expects the refinery still to be operating in another 40-50 years. Total’s former president of refining and chemicals, now chief executive, Patrick Pouyanné, says: “Our job is to find the cheapest crude to make the best product.” Jubail will run on just one type of crude, permanently - Arabian Heavy, produced from the Safaniya and Manifa fields to th
Also in this section
20 February 2026
The country is pushing to increase production and expand key projects despite challenges including OPEC+ discipline and the limitations of its export infrastructure
20 February 2026
Europe has transformed into a global LNG demand powerhouse over the last few years, with the fuel continuing to play a key role in safeguarding the continent’s energy security, Carsten Poppinga, chief commercial officer at Uniper, tells Petroleum Economist
20 February 2026
Sempra Infrastructure’s vice president for marketing and commercial development, Carlos de la Vega, outlines progress across the company’s US Gulf Coast and Mexico Pacific Coast LNG portfolio, including construction at Port Arthur LNG, continued strong performance at Cameron LNG and development of ECA LNG
19 February 2026
US LNG exporter Cheniere Energy has grown its business rapidly since exporting its first cargo a decade ago. But Chief Commercial Officer Anatol Feygin tells Petroleum Economist that, as in the past, the company’s future expansion plans are anchored by high levels of contracted offtake, supporting predictable returns on investment
