Middle East
PetroRabigh starts expanded Saudi ethane cracker
The expansion will increase ethane processing capacity from 95 million standard cubic feet/day (scfd) to 125 million scfd; boosting capacity to 1.6 MMtpy, according to PetroRabigh.
Kuwait oil, gas workers end three-day strike
Kuwaiti oil and gas workers have ended a three-day strike that had temporarily cut the OPEC member's crude production by nearly half, according to the trade union.
Oman builds industrial outpost in desert with refinery, petrochemicals
The Duqm Special Economic Zone will include an oil refinery, a petrochemical complex, manufacturing operations and warehousing and logistics facilities.
Kuwait lowers crude, refining production as workers strike
Kuwait reduced its crude oil output and refining production as part of an emergency plan to help the OPEC member deal with the largest oil and gas workers' strike in years.
Saudi Aramco, Sinopec’s Yasref refining venture secures $4.7B loan
Yasref, which operates a 400,000-bpd refinery next to the Red Sea, began working at full capacity last July. In December, bankers told Reuters that Yasref was seeking the loan to replace some cash which Aramco had invested to build it, so that Aramco could use the money elsewhere.
Kuwait’s oil workers to push ahead with strike, reject compromise
The union has not said how long the strike, involving thousands of workers at state-run companies, would last. Workers fear the payroll overhaul would reduce salaries and affect other benefits.
Total sees gas, petrochemicals as priority in Iran
"Gas is our priority for us there, and petrochemicals," Total's CEO Patrick Pouyanné told reporters at an international liquefied natural gas conference.
Union: Kuwait’s oil, gas worker strike remains on course for Sunday
"There are no negotiations between the unions and the government over the strike," Farhan al-Ajmi, head of the Petrochemicals Industries Co. workers union, told Reuters.
Saudi Arabia secures $23B deal to supply refined products to Egypt
Saudi Arabia is to provide Egypt with 700,000 tons/month of petroleum products under a $23-billion deal over five years between Saudi Aramco and the Egyptian General Petroleum Corp.
Global chemicals output shows monthly growth
During February, chemical production rose in North America, Western Europe, and Asia-Pacific; was flat in Africa & the Middle East; and fell in Latin America and Central and Eastern Europe.
- Serbia secures U.S. sanctions waiver for its NIS oil firm 3/20
- Tanker carrying fuel originally bound for Cuba diverts to Trinidad 3/20
- Vietnam accelerates shift to ethanol fuel as Iran war drives up energy prices 3/20
- India’s Reliance buys about 155,000 bpd Russian oil after pause 3/20
- China's Sinochem cuts refinery runs, seeks prompt-delivery crude 3/20
- Prices for oil, fuel cargoes smash record highs as Iran war chokes Middle East supply 3/20
