Location: Saudi Arabia
Partners: Saudi Aramco (62.5%) and TotalEnergies (37.5%)
Main activity: Petrochemicals
Commissioning: Operational start-up planned for 2027
In Saudi Arabia, TotalEnergies and the Saudi Arabian Oil Company are working together to develop a modern and efficient refining and petrochemicals platform. Both partners took their final investment decision in December 2022 to build a petrochemical complex integrated with the SATORP refinery. Called "Amiral", this new project fits with TotalEnergies' strategy to sustainably develop petrochemicals from advantaged feedstocks by maximizing the synergies within its major integrated platforms operating in growth markets.
The Company has been present in Saudi Arabia since 1974 and is continuing to develop large-scale projects in the country. The latest project to date is Amiral, a vast world-scale petrochemical complex integrated with the SATORP refinery in Jubail on the country's east coast. Amiral is being developed and will be operated by the SATORP joint venture owned by Saudi Aramco (62.5%) and TotalEnergies (37.5%). The project represents an investment of $11 billion. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2023 with commercial operation planned for 2027.
A project integrated with the SATORP refinery and the local area
The Amiral project involves the construction of:
- A mixed-feed cracker capable of processing different grades of low-cost feedstocks and producing 1.65 million tons of ethylene per year
- Two polyethylene lines, each with a capacity of 500,000 tons per year
- Units for extracting butadiene and aromatics, and producing high value-added derivatives
The project aims to convert feedstock produced directly by the SATORP refinery, such as its off-gases and naphtha, as well as ethane and light naphtha supplied by Saudi Aramco.
Ultimately, the complex will also supply a park in the Jubail industrial area, where specialty chemical plants will be located. This collaboration with companies looking to establish operations in the local area will help support the creation of key manufacturing activities, such as carbon fibers, lubricants, special fluids, detergents, additives and automotive parts.
A project that fits the sustainable development ambitions of the SATORP platform and the Company
Reducing the site's environmental footprint is an integral part of the project's construction strategy. Special attention is being paid to its carbon intensity. TotalEnergies, which is driven by its ambition of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, together with society, is on the same page as its partners on this particular issue.
As part of the Amiral project, some of the hydrogen co-produced by the steam cracker will replace the methane used as a fuel in the SATORP refinery's furnaces.
The overall project, both Amiral and the specialty chemicals park, will create 7,000 local direct and indirect jobs, for which TotalEnergies and Saudi Aramco will provide part of the training.
