Aramco Seeks Support for Ras Tanura: Second Contractor to Help US' KBR Hit Deadlines on $26Bn Refinery Upgrade and Petrochemicals Complex

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Saudi Aramco is in talks to bring in a second contractor to work alongside the US' KBR on one of the largest ever project management consultancy (PMC) contracts awarded in the Middle East: project managing the $26bn Ras Tanura refinery upgrade and integrated petrochemicals complex.

The Ras Tanura project will upgrade the refinery to produce almost I million barrels a day (b/d) and integrate it with a petrochemicals facility.

The complex is being developed by Aramco and US firm Dow Chemical Company.

KBR beat Fluor Corporation and Foster Wheeler, both of the US, to win the $140-150m consultancy deal for the project in July 2007 (MEED 13:7:07). Aramco has …