Saudi, Shell JV refinery starts 100,000 bpd ULSD unit

Saudi Aramco Shell Refinery Co. (SASREF) inaugurated an ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) unit at its Jubail refinery. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Saudi Aramco President and Chief Executive Officer Khalid A. Al-Falih, Saudi Aramco Senior Vice President for Operations Services, SASREF Chairman Abdulrahman F. Al-Wuhaib, Saudi Aramco Senior Vice President for Refining, Marketing & International Khalid G. Al-Buainain and Shell International Downstream Executive Director Mark Williams. SASREF President Abdulhakim Al-Gouhi said the ULSD unit had started commercial production of around 100,000 barrels per day of diesel fuel with less than 10 parts per million (ppm) sulfur. The main products of the refinery are chemical feed naphtha, dual purpose kerosene, ULSD, fuel oil and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), mainly for exports to Asia. (March 14, 2010)