Middle East
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.
Kuwait’s oil, gas workers plan to go on strike
Workers fear reduced salaries, benefits and layoffs will be part of a planned government overhaul of the payroll system in the public sector, according to the union.
Asian refiners turn to Middle East’s heavy crudes over Latin America
Latin American crude sold to Asia fell 1% in the first three months of 2016 from a year ago, while Middle East exports to Asia rose 7% in the first quarter, according to new data.
Iran eyes $55 billion in petrochemical investment
"Iran needs $55 billion for 60 projects in the petrochemicals sector over a period of 10 years," Deputy Oil Minister Marzieh Shahdaei said at a conference this week.
Saudi’s SABIC starts trial operations at new rubber plant with ExxonMobil
Trial operations have started at the carbon black and utilities unit of the Al-Jubail Petrochemical Co. (KEMYA) rubber plant, officials with the joint venture said in a statement.
- ITT to acquire SPX Flow for > $4.77 B, expanding leadership in highly engineered components and adjacent flow technologies 12/5
- MOL Group introduces eco-friendly Bag-in-Box packaging for lubricants 12/5
- Addis Energy secures $8.3 MM to scale its transformative approach to low-cost ammonia production 12/5
- World Fuel Services supplies cruise line with waste-based biofuels 12/5
- Chevron announced $18 B-$19-B CAPEX budget for 2026 12/5
- Russia and India sign deal to build urea plant in Russia 12/5
