Saudi Aramco’s planned $150m bulk plant at Wasea in the central region of Saudi Arabia is close to completion and should begin commissioning in the third quarter of 2012.

China’s Sinopec was awarded the engineering, procurement and construction contract to build the Wasea plant in 2009.

The plant will handle an increase in petrol, diesel and fuel oil supplies to the region, with capacity to handle 185,000 barrels a day (b/d) of oil.  The project is part of Saudi Aramco’s efforts to increase its refined products distribution network in the kingdom.

Saudi Aramco is also planning to build a $600m bulk storage facility at Shoaiba on the Red Sea coast that will provide refined petroleum products to the southwest of the kingdom.