Saudi Aramco has inked the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Japan's Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd to conduct a feasibility study for the development of the Rabigh Phase II Project as a major expansion of the recently commissioned Rabigh I Project by PetroRabigh. The feasibility study will evaluate the viability of the Rabigh II Project, including the investment amount, to achieve: expanding the existing Petro Rabigh's ethane cracker for an additional 30 million standard cubic feet per day of feedstock ethane; building a new aromatics complex using around 3 mtpa of naphtha; and constructing various units of petrochemical products of higher value and specialty, including EPR, TPO, MMA, PMMA, LDPE/EVA, caprolactam, polyols, cumene, phenol/acetone, acrylic acid, SAP and Nylon-6.
The Rabigh II Project is a major expansion of the Rabigh I Project to complete the development of a world-class petrochemical complex and will produce a diverse slate of petrochemicals, most of which are newly introduced to the Kingdom. The two partners are expected to complete the feasibility study by Q3 - 2010. The Rabigh II Project will utilize leading-edge technologies from Sumitomo Chemical and other companies, and explore maximization of synergies between the Rabigh II Project and the Rabigh I Project, the utilization of Saudi manpower, and development of the conversion industry.
20-Apr-09 
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