Saudi refineries processed a record 2.22mn b/d of crude oil in December, buoyed by the ramp-up of production at the 400,000 b/d Satorp refinery in Jubail (see p12). Further records will follow this year with the ramp-up of the 400,000 b/d Yasref refinery at Yanbu’, which processed its first crude in September and shipped its first fuel cargoes in January (MEES, 23 January).

Yasref, when fully operational, is set to produce 260,000 b/d of diesel, according to IEA estimates. The bulk of this will be exported. (CONTINUED - 385 WORDS)