住友化学　中間事業報告書(2004/4/1〜2004/9/30）

グローバル戦略の新段階に進む「ラービグ計画」

産油地での立地による新たな事業展開
	住友化学は、本年５月に世界最大の産油国であるサウジアラビアの国営石油会社サウジアラビアン・オイル・カンパニー（サウジ・アラムコ）との間で、サウジアラビア紅海沿岸のラービグにおける石油精製と石油化学との統合コンプレックス開発計画「ラービグ計画」についての基本的な枠組みを定めた覚書を締結しました。現在、フィージビリティ・スタディー（ＦＳ／企業化調査）が進行中であります。そこで今回は、この新たな事業展開についてご紹介します。
■	安価原料を確保し、世界市場における競争力を強化
	ラービク計画は、石油会社と化学会社とがお互いの強みを生かし、石油精製と石油化学の統合コンプレックスとして世界最大級の設備を建設することでスケールメリットを追求するとともに、両事業の完全な一体化による相乗効果を最大限に発揮しようとする計画です。 　当社は、ポリエチレン、ポリプロピレンからなるポリオレフィン事業を重点事業の一つと位置づけ、本年度からスタートした中期経営計画（０４〜０６年度）では、安価原料の安定的な確保を最重要課題としていますが、本計画はそのための最善のプロジェクトであり、世界市場における当社の競争力が飛躍的に強化されるものと考えております。
■	エチレン１３０万トン・プロピレン９０万トン、世界最大級のコンプレックス
	当社とサウジ・アラムコは、本計画の事業主体として共同出資会社を設立したうえ、日量４０万バレルと、サウジアラビアでも最大の原油処理能力をもつサウジ・アラムコの既存の製油所を譲り受けて高度化し、世界最大級の工タンクラッカーと流動接触分解装置（ＦＣＣ）、さらにポリエチレン、ポリプロピレンなどエチレンとプロピレンの誘導品の生産プラントを新設します。 　この結果、既存の製油所がこれまで生産してきたナフサや重油などの石油精製品にガソリンが加わり、さらに、大幅に安価な原料を用いたエチレン、プロピレンとその誘導品からなる石油化学製品が新たな生産品目として加わります。プラントの操業開始は２００８年後半を目標としています。

March 23, 2009 Aramco

Al-Falih Announces Projects to Develop Industrial Sector, Human Resources

In a speech during the “2009 Local Content Forum: Opportunities and Challenges,” held at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the Eastern Province, Saudi Aramco’s president and CEO Khalid A. Al-Falih mentioned that a memorandum of understanding (MOU) will soon be signed with Sumitomo Chemical for the Petro Rabigh expansion. He also announced the establishment of an industrial training center that will be located in al-Hasa, and another to support the oil services based in Dammam.

The message he delivered to the group was that the current global financial crisis proved that serious and bold investments in establishing qualified institutions and companies, particularly manufacturing companies, is a smart option that provides lucrative, low-risk returns in the long run.

Al-Falih reassured the local industrial sector that, despite the current tough global economic conditions and the challenges faced by the energy sector, the Kingdom still holds on to its long-term investments in expanding its oil and gas sectors and its programs to enhance local and global energy supplies. Saudi Aramco’s numerous needs, he said, are similar to those of other major sectors such as the petrochemicals, water and electricity sectors.

Al-Falih also called for using the slackening periods witnessed by the global economy to formulate future investment strategies and prepare for the coming economic expansion periods.
He also called on the private sector to focus on accelerating the development of oil and gas services as well as local industries to turn the Kingdom from a net importer to a leading exporter of oil and gas-related goods, services and technologies.

Al-Falih argued for utilizing the opportunities afforded by the huge domestic investments being made by the Kingdom, the great improvement in its investment environment, its remarkable advance on the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index, and its solid national economy that continues to attract investments during the current period of global economic contraction and enables the government to continue its developmental and infrastructure expansion projects.

On this occasion, Al-Falih announced that Saudi Aramco plans to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in the near future with Sumitomo Chemical for the second phase of the Petro Rabigh Complex (Petro Rabigh II). He also spoke of the huge investment the company will make through its upcoming petrochemical project in Ras Tanura ? a partnership with Dow Chemical of the USA. This investment will amount to approximately SR 100 billion when completed, and will include the construction of integrated industrial cities where the private sector can invest in conversion and support industries.

Al-Falih also announced two new major initiatives by Saudi Aramco in the field of vocational training, in partnership with the General Organization for Technical Educational and Vocational Training (GOTEVT). The first involves the establishment of the National Industrial Training Institute in al-Hasa, a new training institute similar to those operated by the company. The company will offer advice on the center’s design as well as provide land with an area totaling 365,000 square meters for the construction of the center which will features classrooms and laboratories that can accommodate 2,000 trainees. The second initiative Al-Falih announced was for the Saudi Technical Petroleum Services Institute in Dammam, in partnership with the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, for which the company will provide technical support.

The two institutes, Al-Falih said, aim to build national expertise in the areas of exploration and production as well as various other industries and to develop teaching staff and curricula in the areas of oil exploration and production and quality control. The company plans to utilize those two important facilities, not only in training its own employees, but also in creating highly-qualified Saudi employees to serve the oil, gas and petrochemical sectors in general.

This, Al-Falih said, is an example of what the private sector can accomplish through joint investment in the construction of institutes that help develop the private sector’s business. Al-Falih uncovered more initiatives in the area of developing the Kingdom’s human resources.

He expressed his gratitude for the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the Eastern Province for inviting him to this Forum which was held under the auspices of HRH Prince Muhammad ibn Fahd ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz, Amir of the Eastern Province. Al-Falih received an honorary plaque from HE Dr. Khalid as-Sulayman, deputy minister of Commerce and Industry for Industry Affairs and the session’s moderator, in recognition of Saudi Aramco’s sponsorship and active participation in the Forum’s activities.