The Petro Rabigh advantage:

Petro Rabigh is not the only petrochemical company in Saudi Arabia , but it enjoys advantages that promise to transform the industry both in the Kingdom and globally. Indeed, the union of blue-chip powerhouses Aramco and Sumitomo, whose expertise and capabilities knit together perfectly, will make Petro Rabigh one of the most competitive and innovative petrochemical companies ever.

Currently, Aramco’s Rabigh refinery has the potential to provide 400,000 barrels per day of crude oil, 95 million cubic feet per day of ethane and about 15,000 barrels per day of butane. The availability of such volumes of feedstock, on-site and low-priced, will release Petro Rabigh from the supply pressures faced by other companies, and will enable it to achieve unprecedented levels of economy and efficiency.

Sumitomo, meanwhile, provides world-leading technological know-how and 95 years of experience in the global marketing of chemical products. This consolidation of know-how and infrastructure, along with the global aspect of the partnership, marks the beginning of a new era in Saudi Arabia, one in which it uses its natural resources to achieve a global edge in a wide variety of industries. Petrochemicals are only the beginning.

Due to begin production in October 2008, Petro Rabigh will initially produce 18.4 million tons per year (mpta) of petroleum-based products and 2.4 mpta of ethylene and propylene-based derivatives. Demand for its quality, low-priced products is expected to be high, and a proposed industrial park adjacent to the complex will drive demand even higher.

Accordingly, plans are already underway to expand the plant’s operations.