Beijing, April 10 — Sinopec and Saudi Aramco have signed a cooperation framework agreement to expand their joint Yanbu Refinery in Saudi Arabia, aiming to strengthen integrated refining and petrochemical operations and enhance production of high-value chemical products.
Original By NLS
Beijing, April 10 — Sinopec and Saudi Aramco have signed a cooperation framework agreement to expand their joint Yanbu Refinery in Saudi Arabia, aiming to strengthen integrated refining and petrochemical operations and enhance production of high-value chemical products.
The planned expansion includes the addition of a 1.8 million tons-per-year ethylene cracker, a 1.5 million tons-per-year aromatics complex, and supporting downstream polyolefin units. These new facilities will be built alongside the refinery’s existing infrastructure, maximizing integration and creating a more resilient, full-value-chain petrochemical ecosystem.
Once operational, the project is expected to significantly boost the refinery’s output of advanced petrochemicals, helping meet growing global demand and supporting Saudi Arabia’s industrial diversification goals under Vision 2030.
“The Yanbu Refinery has long stood as a model of China–Saudi energy cooperation,” said Zhao Dong, President of Sinopec. “This expansion marks a new chapter in our partnership—deeper in scope and broader in ambition.”
Amin H. Nasser, President and CEO of Saudi Aramco, said the agreement reinforces the two companies’ strategic relationship. “The expansion reflects our shared focus on product innovation and diversification,” he said. “We’re excited to build on this partnership and elevate Yanbu into one of the world’s premier integrated refining and petrochemical facilities.”
Located in Yanbu Industrial City on the Red Sea coast, the refinery processes 430,000 barrels per day of Saudi heavy crude, producing clean fuels and value-added petrochemical products for global markets. Covering 5.2 million square meters, the site is considered a key milestone under both China’s Belt and Road Initiative and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.