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
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