Aramco opens new storage facility

Saudi Aramco has opened a new refined oil products storage facility in central Saudi Arabia to allow for more flexibility in scheduling refinery maintenance and minimizing supply disruptions. It is the last of five similar storage facilities that were opened in Jeddah, Abha, Madinah and the capital Riyadh. The construction of the facilities, the company said, would allow greater flexibility in the scheduling of maintenance works at refineries and would help avoid supply shortages. In addition, it would also cut operating costs and reduce reliance on land transportation to move petroleum products. (March 31, 2009)