Petchem sector gaining from KACST research

The King Abdulaziz City of Science and Technology (KACST) announced yesterday that its cooperation with Oxford and international research centers in petrochemicals were aimed at developing the Kingdom’s capabilities and achieving transfer of technology.
Opening the 2nd KACST-Oxford Petrochemical Forum, KACST President Dr. Muhammad Al-Suwayel said the cooperation between the city and Oxford centered on five areas.
He spelled out the five areas as developing selective catalysts to convert heavy oils and petroleum residues to basic petrochemicals, clean fuel combustion, exploitation of carbon dioxide by converting it into useful chemical compounds, polymerization processes, and the development of new and more effective catalysts.
“During the next four days, the forum will discuss advanced technologies to determine the specialties of petrochemicals, sustainable methods in petrochemical industry and inventions in the areas of catalysts for oil refining processes,” the president said.
The forum offers an opportunity for experts to share the latest research, knowledge and best practices. It will focus on research activities and the latest studies involving petrochemicals, petroleum refining and related fields of technology critical to Saudi Arabia’s economy now and in the future. Attendees include professionals from the petrochemical industry, policy-makers and scientists from the Ministries of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Transportation and Trade and Industry, as well as representatives from Saudi Aramco, SABIC (Saudi Basic Industries Corp.) and the Saudi Council of Chambers.