Saudi Aramco said to start refining in Egypt early-2018

Saudi Arabian Oil Co. (Saudi Aramco) is expected to begin refining its oil in Egyptian refineries by the first quarter of 2018, Shorouk News reported, citing a source in the Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum.

Talks are ongoing with Aramco to determine the amount of crude to be refined in Egypt, the source added.

Aramco could potentially refine oil in the Middle East Oil Refinery (MIDOR) in Alexandria, the source added.

Egyptian petroleum minister Tarek El Molla recently said that preliminary talks were ongoing with Saudi Arabia to refine oil in Egypt.

The Kingdom is also looking to capitalize on opportunities to pump more Saudi crude through the Sumed pipeline, and turn the Sidi Kerir pipeline terminal into a regional hub to market oil to Europe, according to a statement in September by the Egyptian oil ministry.

In April last year, Reuters reported that Aramco would supply Egypt with 700,000 tons of petroleum products on a monthly basis over five years under a $23 billion agreement with the Egyptian General Petroleum Corp. (EGPC).