Arab News
Trade Arabia,
Tues, Dec 09, 2025 | Jumada Al-Thani 18, 1447
ExxonMobil, Aramco eye Samref refinery upgrade, petchem complex
Saudi Arabia:
ExxonMobil, Aramco and Samref have signed a Venture Framework Agreement (VFA) to
evaluate a significant upgrade of the Samref refinery in Yanbu, and an expansion
of the facility into an integrated petrochemical complex.
The companies will explore capital investments to upgrade and diversify
production, including high-quality distillates that result in lower emissions
and high-performance chemicals, as well as opportunities to improve the
refinery’s energy efficiency and reduce emissions from operations through an
integrated emissions-reduction strategy.
Mohammed Y Al Qahtani, Aramco Downstream President, said: “This next phase of
Samref marks a step in our long-term strategic collaboration with ExxonMobil.
Designed to increase the conversion of crude oil and petroleum liquids into
high-value chemicals, this project reinforces our commitment to advancing
Downstream value creation and our liquids-to-chemicals strategy. It will also
position Samref as a key driver in the growth of the Kingdom’s petrochemical
sector.”
Jack Williams, Exxon Mobil Corporation Senior Vice President, said: “We value
our partnership with Aramco and our long history in Saudi Arabia. We look
forward to evaluating this project, which aligns with our strategy to focus on
investments that allow us to grow high-value products that meet society’s
evolving energy needs and contribute to a lower-emission future.”
The companies will commence a preliminary front-end engineering and design phase
for the proposed project, which would aim to maximize operational advantages,
enhance Samref’s competitiveness and help to meet growing demand for
high-quality petrochemical products in the Kingdom. Plans are subject to market
conditions, regulatory approvals and final investment decisions by Aramco and
ExxonMobil.
Samref is an equally owned joint venture between Aramco and Mobil Yanbu Refining
Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corporation. The refinery
currently has the capacity to process more than 400,000 barrels of crude oil per
day, producing a diverse range of energy products including propane, automotive
diesel oil, marine heavy fuel oil, and sulphur.