Yasref refinery achieves full processing capacity, says CEO

Yanbu Aramco Sinopec Refining Company (Yasref), a joint venture between Saudi Aramco and China Petrochemical Corporation (Sinopec), has reached full capacity of 400,000 barrel per day in processing Arabian heavy crude oil, Reuters reported.

Mohammad al-Shammari, Yasref's CEO, said the refinery reached full capacity on June 22, adding that all units are up and running, the report said.

The refinery, which started commercial operations in April 1, produces gasoline, high quality diesel and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), as well as byproduct sulfur and petroleum coke for export.

By the end of May, the refinery had exported 20 million barrels of diesel and gasoline and more than 150,000 tonnes of petroleum coke. It has also supplied the domestic market with refined products, he said, and is producing close to the designed capacity target of 90,000 bpd of gasoline and 260,000 bpd of diesel.

Yasref is 62.5 percent owned by Saudi Aramco, while Sinopec holds the rest.

While Yasref has plans to get listed on the Saudi market, no definite timeline has been set, Al-Shammari added.