The Yanbu Aramco Sinopec Refining Company (Yasref), the downstream joint venture between Saudi Aramco and state-owned China Petrochemical Corporation (Sinopec), has awarded Australian engineering firm WorleyParsons a general engineering service (GES) contract to help optimise production from its facilities.

WorleyParsons will provide engineering and consultancy services for the refinery, including feasibility studies, basic/concept studies, detailed engineering, procurement and construction support, and pre-commissioning/commissioning assistance, the company said in a statement.

The services will be provided from WorleyParsons’ Yanbu office with support from the Dammam team, it added.

Yasref is a full-conversion refinery that covers about 5.2 million square metres in Yanbu Industrial City in Saudi Arabia. The refinery uses 400,000 barrels a day of Arabian heavy crude oil to produce transportation fuels, as well as high-value refined products for international and domestic markets.

The facility became operational in September 2014.