Construction has begun on a $2.1 billion industrial gas complex in Jazan, Saudi Arabia, which is slated to become the largest such facility in the world.
The industrial gas complex will serve Saudi Aramco’s Jazan refinery and terminal when complete, and will require 600MW to operate, according to a report in Gulf Business. The contract for the complex was awarded to ACWA Holding and Air Products by Saudi Aramco in 2015 and the two companies formed Jazan Gas Projects Company (JGPC) to build, own and operate the plant. Construction on-site started a month earlier than planned.
The Jazan Economic City (JEC) and associated Jazan Refinery Complex Project (JRCP) are 40 square-kilometers (15 square-miles) of strategic developments by the Saudi government “intended to provide economic stimulus to Jazan Province, through large scale business, industrial, residential and commercial growth,” the JRCP says.
When complete, the complex will supply a total of 75,000 metric tonnes of industrial gas including 20,000 tonnes of oxygen and 55,000 tonnes nitrogen per day for 20 years to Saudi Aramco’s refinery.
“Saudi Aramco is constructing a grass roots refinery at the JEC and a 2.4GW Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) power station fueled with heavy residuals off the new refinery,” JCRP said. “The IGCC will supply power, steam, hydrogen and water to the refinery as well as power to the JEC and national grid. Jazan Gas Projects Company, JGPC, is a Special Purpose Vehicle incorporated in Saudi Arabia to develop a large air separation unit (ASU) to supply nitrogen and oxygen gases to Saudi Aramco. The oxygen will principally be supplied to the new Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) power plant, while the nitrogen will be used both at the IGCC plant and on the refinery, principally for inerting operations.”
“A project of this complexity and magnitude is a testimony to Saudi Aramco’s contribution to the growth of the national economy through true partnership with the private sector,” JGPC Chairman Mohammad Abunayyan said.
