Page 166 - CW E-Magazine (3-12-2024)

News from Abroad

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ExxonMobil expanding chemical recycling capacity in US

ExxonMobil is planning to invest global recycling capacity of 1-billion traditional, mechanical recycling by trans-
more than $200-mn to expand its ad- pounds per year by 2027. forming plastic waste into raw materials
vanced recycling operations at its sites that can be used to make many valuable
in Baytown and Beaumont, Texas (US). “At our Baytown site, we have products – from fuels to lubricants to
The new operations are expected to proven advanced recycling works at high-performance chemicals and plastics.
start up in 2026 and can help increase scale, which gives us confidence in Advanced recycling can address a broader
chemical recycling rates and divert our ambition to provide the capacity to range of plastic waste that won’t be
plastic from landfills. process more than 1-billion pounds of mechanically recycled and may otherwise
plastic per year around the world. We be buried or burned. The company’s first
The investment will add 350-million are proud of this proprietary technology Baytown facility started up in 2022 and
pounds per year of advanced recycling and the role it can play in helping estab- represents one of the largest advanced
capacity at Baytown and Beaumont, lish a circular economy for plastics and recycling facilities in North America, having
bringing ExxonMobil’s total capacity reducing plastic waste,” said Ms. Karen processed more than 70-million pounds of
to 500-million pounds per year. Exx- McKee, President of ExxonMobil plastic waste as of October 2024. Exxon-
onMobil is aiming to build additional Product Solutions. Mobil helped to form joint venture Cyclyx
units at manufacturing sites in North in 2021 to improve the collection and
America, Europe and Asia, to reach a Advanced recycling complements sortation of plastic waste.
Aramco inks agreement to move ahead with SASREF

expansion in Jubail

Saudi energy giant Aramco and
China-based Rongsheng Petrochemical
Co. have signed a framework agree-
ment to boost the expansion of a subsi-
diary of the state-owned oil company.

According to a press statement, the
tripartite agreement outlines a coopera-
tion framework and detailed plans to de-
sign and develop Saudi Aramco Jubail
Refinery Company (SASREF). The initi-
ative is expected to enhance SASREF’s
refining and petrochemical capabilities.
Established in 1981, SASREF operates to fostering closer collaboration with abundant energy resources and significant
one of the largest refineries in Saudi key partners and progressing its stra- market potential, and Rongsheng Petro-
Arabia located in Jubail Industrial City. tegic downstream expansion, both in chemical will bring strong momentum to
the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and inter- the partnership through our excellent ope-
The deal follows an announcement nationally. It also highlights the po- ration and management capabilities and
made in April this year that Aramco and tential of the Kingdom’s downstream market competitiveness.” The project,
Rongsheng Petrochemical had signed sector to attract overseas players.” which is currently in the pre-FEED stage,
a partnership agreement related to the Mr. Li Shuirong, Rongsheng Petrochemi- envisages construction of large-scale
planned formation of a joint venture in cal Chairman, added, “The signing of steam crackers and the integration of
SASREF. Mr. Mohammed Al Qahtani, the Development Framework Agreement associated downstream derivatives into
Aramco Downstream President, said, sets the stage for Rongsheng Petrochemi- the existing SASREF complex, enhancing
“This Development Framework Agree- cal’s in-depth participation in the SAS- its ability to meet growing demand for
ment underscores Aramco’s intentions REF expansion project. Saudi Arabia has high-quality petrochemical products.

166 Chemical Weekly December 3, 2024

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