(EnergyAsia, December 20 2012, Thursday) — UK’s Petrofac said it has been awarded two engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) packages worth a total of US$1.4 billion for a US$4 billion oil refinery and storage terminal project in the southwestern Saudi Arabian city of Jazan.

Saudi Aramco, which awarded the contracts, expects to start up the 400,000 b/d refinery and the support terminal on the coast of the Red Sea to process local heavy and medium crude by 2016.

Petrofac said its Saudi Arabia office will lead the project management delivery of the work scope that includes construction of tank farms.

Marwan Chedid, chief executive of the company’s engineering, construction, operations and maintenance division, said:

“We are delighted to have secured these significant packages for Saudi Aramco on their Jazan refinery and terminal project. This will serve to reinforce the relationships and experience we have developed through our recent involvement on the Karan project as well as our ongoing Petro Rabigh projects for Saudi Aramco and Sumitomo Chemical Co Ltd.

“As this project progresses, we look forward to working closely with Saudi Aramco and our contractors to further deepen our engineering and project management capability in the kingdom.”