Aramco CEO Amin Nasser
Saudi Aramco pins its hopes on petchems
The NOC heavyweight wants to the biggest of beasts in the petrochemicals world too
Aramco’s ambition is “to be the world’s preeminent integrated energy and chemicals company”, the Saudi state-owned oil firm said in mid-July. Its completion of a $69.1bn takeover of petchems-focussed counterpart Sabic in June was a huge step towards realising that goal. It can now boast of being the fourth-largest chemicals firm in the world, as well as its premier oil company. And while internal governmental financial calculations were a motivator in transferring a chunk of Aramco cash to Sabic’s former owner, the rapidly expanding Public Investment Fund, Saudi’s de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has also seen a strategic fit in putting the two firms together since taking the
Also in this section
18 September 2024
In the first part of the fifth chapter of our history of oil and gas, we move the story on to the climate crisis and push for net-zero carbon emissions
18 September 2024
The burden of subsides on national economies seems to outweigh their political point scoring benefits, but removing them is not an easy task
17 September 2024
Decarbonisation strategy is already hurting upstream appetite and threatening near-term energy security
16 September 2024
The third part of our fourth chapter on the history of oil takes the story of gas to the present day with the rise of LNG and the creation of a truly global market
