Fujian Refining & Petrochemical announce refining unit start-up

20-May-09

Fujian Refining & Petrochemical Company Limited (FREP) announced the start-up of its 8 mln tpa Crude Distillation Unit/Vacuum Distillation Unit in its new integrated refining and petrochemical complex. FREP is owned by Fujian Petrochemical Company Limited (50%), ExxonMobil China Petroleum and Petrochemical Company Limited (25%) and Saudi Aramco Sino Company Limited (25%)*. Other major units are expected to be coming online during a phased start-up over the next several months. FREP's world-scale refining and petrochemical complex is expected to be in full operations in the second half of this year. FREP expands an existing refinery in Quanzhou, Fujian Province from 80,000 bpd (4 mln tpa) to 240,000 bpd (12 mln tpa). The upgraded refinery will refine and process primarily sour Arabian crude. FREP's facilities also include an 800,000 tpa ethylene steam cracker, an 800,000 tpa polyethylene unit, a 400,000 tpa polypropylene unit and a 700,000 tpa aromatics complex. Fujian Petrochemical Company Limited (FPCL) is owned 50% by China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec) and 50% by the Fujian Government.