28.11.2022 • NewsSABICSaudi Aramco

SABIC Confirms Plans for COTC Complex

SABIC has announced plans to set up a crude oil-to-chemicals (COTC) complex in Ras Al-Khair, Saudi Arabia. The complex is expected to convert 400,000 bbl/day of oil, the company said in a statement to the Tadawul stock exchange.

The project, said SABIC, is part of its strategic growth plans, as well as contributing to the realization of the Kingdom’s program to convert oil and its liquids into chemicals. The company added that the proposal also “affirms its commitment to continue developing COTC technologies, which contribute to increasing cost efficiencies and value creation opportunities in the energy and chemical industry on a larger scale.”

According to local media reports, Saudi Arabia’s energy minister Abdulaziz bin Salman said during the opening of a SABIC building in Jubail that the COTC project will be undertaken as a joint venture with parent company Saudi Aramco and be completed “in the coming years.” He cited strong demand from the global petrochemicals industry for oil, with growth to accelerate by 60% until 2040.

SABIC is also developing a COTC complex in Yanbu. It said in October 2020 that it was reevaluating the project’s scope to include the integration of Aramco’s existing refineries at the site.

© SABIC
© SABIC

The companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding in November 2019 to study the project’s feasibility – the complex is expected to produce about 9 million t/y of petrochemicals by 2025. Contracts were awarded in 2018 to Wood and KBR for project management and front-end engineering and design services.

Earlier this month, Aramco announced that it had given the go-ahead for its South Korean affiliate S-Oil to proceed with a thermal crude-to-chemicals complex (TC2C) in Ulsan. The project will be the first commercialization of Aramco and Lummus Technology’s TC2C technology when it starts up in 2026.

Author: Elaine Burridge, Freelance Journalist

Whitepaper

Excellence in Pharmaceutical Distribution and The Critical Role of Good Distribution Practice (GDP)
Setting the Standard

Excellence in Pharmaceutical Distribution and The Critical Role of Good Distribution Practice (GDP)

Are you ready to elevate your pharmaceutical operations? Download our exclusive whitepaper and discover how compliance with Good Distribution Practice (GDP) is essential for the safety and integrity of pharmaceuticals.

Virtual Event

Digitalization in the Chemical Industry
CHEManager Spotlight

Digitalization in the Chemical Industry

Save the Date: October 22, 2025
The event will be promoted to a combined audience of over 100,000 professionals across Europe through the CHEManager and CITplus networks.

most read

Photo
21.03.2025 • News

What’s Next for Pharma Supply Chains?

Sudden shifts in demand, supply shortages and global collapse have put immense pressure on pharmaceutical logistics. To address these challenges, PHARMAP 2025 brings together industry experts to discover AI-driven supply chain optimisation, strategic logistics partnerships and digital solutions that enhance efficiency and resilience in the pharmaceutical supply chain.