Sinopec, Fujian Province, ExxonMobil and Saudi Aramco announced the signing of the contract for the Fujian Refining and Ethylene Joint Venture Project. At the same time, Sinopec, ExxonMobil and Saudi Aramco signed the contract for the Fujian Fuels Marketing Joint Venture Project.

The signing of the two joint venture contracts marks significant milestones in the development of China’s first fully integrated Sino-foreign projects that involve refining, petrochemicals and fuels and chemicals marketing.

The Fujian Refining and Ethylene Joint Venture Project, located in Quanzhou, Fujian Province, will expand the existing refinery from 80,000 barrels-per-day (4 million tons-per-year) to 240,000 barrels-per-day (12 million tons-per-year).

The upgraded refinery will primarily refine and process sour Arabian crude. In addition, the project will construct an 800,000 tons-per-year ethylene steam cracker, an 800,000 tons-per-year polyethylene unit, a 400,000 tons-per-year polypropylene unit and an aromatics complex to produce 700,000 tons-per-year of paraxylene.

Support facilities including a 300,000 ton crude berth and power cogeneration will also be built. This joint venture company will be owned by Fujian Petrochemical Company Limited (FPCL) (50%), ExxonMobil China Petroleum and Petrochemical Company Limited (25%) and Saudi Aramco Sino Company Limited (25%). Currently, the project is expected to start up in early 2009.

The Fujian Fuels Marketing Joint Venture Project will manage and operate approximately 750 service stations and a network of terminals in Fujian Province. It will be owned by Sinopec (55%), ExxonMobil (22.5%) and Saudi Aramco (22.5%).
 
Together, the Fujian Refining and Ethylene Joint Venture Project and the Fujian Fuels Marketing Joint Venture Project will serve to meet China’s rapidly growing demand for petroleum products and petrochemicals.

Synergies among these two world-class, integrated businesses, closely coupled with the strengths of each partner and a reliable supply of crude oil from Saudi Aramco, significantly enhance the competitiveness of this project, and help ensure its world-class performance.

Fact Sheet - Fujian Refining and Ethylene Joint Venture Project and Fujian Fuels Marketing Joint Venture Project, both located in southeastern China’s Fujian Province, will be the first fully integrated refining, petrochemicals and fuels marketing Sino-foreign projects ever attempted in China.

Expand the existing refinery in Quanzhou, Fujian Province from 80 KBD (4 million tons-per-year) to 240 KBD (12 million tons-per-year).

The upgraded refinery will primarily refine and process sour Arabian crude. In addition, the project will build new petrochemical facilities, including
- an 800,000 tons-per-year ethylene steam cracker - an 800,000 tons-per-year polyethylene unit - a 400,000 tons-per-year polypropylene unit, and - an aromatics complex based on a 700,000 tons-per-year paraxylene unit.

A 300,000 tons crude berth and utilities, including cogeneration facilities of 280MW. Electricity generated by the cogeneration facilities will provide about 80% of the power requirement.