Petro Rabigh completes phase II cracker expansion works, raising capacity

Saudi Arabia’s Rabigh Refining and Petrochemical Company (Petro Rabigh) has completed the mechanical works for the Rabigh Phase II ethane cracker expansion project, raising the cracker’s production capacity from 1.3 million mt/year to 1.6 million mt/year, the company announced Wednesday.

The company said it completed the mechanical works to expand the ethane processing capacity by an additional 30 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSSCFD), thereby increasing the unit’s ethane gas processing capacity from 95 MMSCFD to 125 MMSCFD.

“Petro Rabigh will employ the expanded production capacity upon the supply of ethane gas from the relevant parties, while the financial impact of full operation of the expanded ethane cracker unit will be seen in an increase in the company’s sales revenue by an estimated Riyals 750 million ($200 million) for 2016," the company said in a statement.