Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Aramco) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec) for potential downstream collaboration in China.

The MoU provides a basis for continued downstream collaboration between Aramco and Sinopec, capitalizing on each company’s strengths and their long-term relationship through existing joint ventures, namely FREP and Sinopec Senmei (Fujian) Petroleum Company (SSPC) in China, and Yanbu Aramco Sinopec Refining Company in Saudi Arabia.

“This MoU represents an exciting new chapter in our long-standing relationship with Sinopec. Such collaborations promote our downstream integration and expansion strategy in Asia and support our broader objectives of becoming a global leader in liquids-to-chemicals and a resilient and reliable supplier of one of the lowest upstream carbon intensity oils  to meet China’s growing demand,” said Mohammed Y. Al Qahtani, senior vice president of Downstream for Aramco.

An Aramco subsidiary,  Saudi Aramco Asia Company Limited (SAAC), and Sinopec also aim to support Fujian Refining and Petrochemical Company, Ltd. (FREP) in conducting a feasibility study into the optimization and expansion of FREP’s capacity.

“Sinopec and Aramco enjoy a long history bookmarked  by numerous examples of successful cooperation which continues to strengthen our strategic relationship. Both companies cooperate in mutually beneficial crude trading, refining and chemical joint ventures, engineering services as well as science and technology research and development. Together such collaboration represents a model of energy cooperation between China and Saudi Arabia. The signing of this MOU will support our refinery feedstock optimization and downstream petrochemical development, while offering new opportunities to deepen and expand activity amid an accelerating global energy transition,” said Sinopec President Yu Baocai.