Sinopec has announced the start of constructing a refinery and a petrochemical complex in cooperation with Aramco in Southeast China’s Fujian province, according to Reuters.

The project will include a refinery capacity of 16 million metric tons per year (mtpa), equivalent to approximately 320,000 barrels per day (bbl/d), a 1.5 mtpa ethylene plant, a 2 mtpy paraxylene unit, and a 300,000-ton capacity crude oil terminal.

Fujian Petrochemical is operated by the Fujian government holding 50% interest in a joint venture between Sinopec and Aramco, each holding 25% interest.

The project is expected to become operational in 2030, and once in production, it will be able to supply 5 million tons of petrochemical feedstocks annually, said Sinopec.

Notably, Sinopec and Aramco signed a preliminary agreement to build the complex two years ago.