Saudi Arabia’s ambitious integrated petrochemicals expansion plans took a significant step forward this week. UK firm Ineos plans to build three specialty chemicals plants within the $9bn Amiral petrochemical complex adjacent to the 440,000 b/d Satorp JV refinery at Jubail, the kingdom’s Gulf coast downstream hub.

Ineos signed an MoU for the plants with Satorp partners Aramco (62.5%) and Total (37.5%) on 3 June, and expects the $2bn project to be complete in 2025. The new plants will be the UK firm’s first in the Middle East. (CONTINUED - 685 WORDS)