The startup of Saudi Aramco’s Rabigh-2 petchems expansion is the latest major step forward in the kingdom’s efforts to leverage its hydrocarbon reserves into much-needed economic diversification (MEES, 8 November).
The Petro Rabigh joint venture with Japan’s Sumitomo is located on the Red Sea coast, south of Yanbu, while Aramco also has the Sadara joint venture with US firm Dow Chemical in the Gulf coast city of Jubail. Both ventures are producing a number of chemicals not previously available in Saudi Arabia in a bid to attract manufacturers to build plants nearby. (CONTINUED - 719 WORDS)
