France’s Total, partner with Saudi Aramco in the 440,000 b/d Satorp joint venture refinery at Jubail, says their planned $5bn investment in the Amiral integrated petrochemicals project at Satorp is not among projects impacted by planned investments cuts. Total’s planned $500mn downstream capex reduction in 2020 “does not include this project,” Total told Reuters on 28 April. Total has slashed 20% from its planned 2020 capex (MEES, 1 May and MEES, 27 March).

Aramco and Satorp will build a 1.5mn t/y mixed feed cracker and 800,000 t/y polyethylene plant for start-up in 2024. They are also looking to bring third parties into Amiral. Japan’s JXTG Nippon is the latest potential Amiral investor, announcing a feasibility study for a 23,000 t/y ethylidene norbornene (ENB) plant. Earlier Daelim signed an MoU for an 80,000 t/y polyisobutylene plant, while UK’s Ineos signed an MoU for 425,000 t/y acrylonitrile, 400,000 t/y linear alpha olefin and associated poly alpha olefin plants (MEES, 24 April). (CONTINUED - 156 WORDS)