Kuwait is finalizing delayed plans to add integrated petrochemical facilities to its 615,000 b/d Al Zour refinery, MEES understands. A senior official at state-firm Kipic says that a decision could be made as soon as the end of this year on the project, which would cost an estimated $9.7bn and would take four-to-five years to construct following FID.
Al Zour is set to reach full capacity by the end of September (MEES, 26 May), and will then primarily produce fuel oil (around 277,000 b/d) and middle distillates (around 251,000 b/d). Under the next planned development phase, fuel oil output would be slashed as facilities are installed to produce 2.7mn t/y of aromatics and polypropylene, as well as 1.7mn t/y of gasoline (40,000 b/d). (CONTINUED - 124 WORDS)