In a strategic move to accelerate Saudi Arabia’s leadership in downstream innovation, Aramco, Honeywell, and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) have signed a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) to co-develop next-generation direct Crude-to-Chemicals (CTC) technology.
Driving Innovation in Crude-to-Chemicals
The collaboration develops and scales up the full CTC process. It aims to significantly reduce capital and operating costs linked to conventional CTC conversion. The new technology extracts maximum value from each barrel of crude oil by converting it directly into light olefins and other high-demand chemicals. The innovative process improves fuel efficiency, optimizes carbon utilization, and enhances process economics. It enables more efficient and cost-effective chemical production at scale.
Supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030
The partnership aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and advances economic diversification. It strengthens national research and technology capabilities and solidifies the Kingdom’s global leadership in the petrochemicals industry. The collaboration represents a strategic alignment of industrial expertise, academic excellence, and market ambition, creating a platform for high-impact innovation.
Industry Leaders Speak
Dr. Ali A. Al-Meshari, Aramco Senior Vice President of Technology Oversight and Coordination, said, “The collaboration with Honeywell UOP and KAUST furthers Aramco’s efforts to drive innovation and shape the future of petrochemicals. By harnessing cutting-edge technologies, we aim to enhance energy efficiency and unlock greater value from every barrel of crude. This novel Crude-to-Chemicals process supports the global transition toward cleaner, high-performance chemical production. It also demonstrates our commitment to creating lasting value for stakeholders, communities, and the environment.”
Rajesh Gattupalli, Honeywell UOP President, added, “This agreement marks a defining moment in our strategic collaboration with Aramco and KAUST. Leveraging Honeywell UOP’s expertise in catalytic process design and commercial scale-up, we are well positioned to advance this technology. The outcome will enhance energy efficiency, reduce emissions, and allow the Kingdom to unlock greater value from its resources while strengthening its global competitiveness.”
Integrating Academic Excellence
KAUST brings leading-edge scientific expertise to the collaboration, ensuring research, design, and innovation progress in tandem with industrial development. Dr. Ian Campbell, Senior Vice President at KAUST’s National Transformation Institute (NTI), said, “At KAUST, we believe impactful science must translate into industrial solutions. This collaboration integrates our research capabilities with the world-class engineering and R&D of Honeywell UOP and Aramco, accelerating technology development and supporting Saudi Arabia’s innovation-driven economy.”
A Model for Collaborative Innovation
As per the press release, this partnership combines academic research, industrial know-how, and market-driven objectives. It aims to accelerate the readiness of next-generation CTC technology. It also seeks to position Saudi Arabia at the forefront of sustainable and efficient petrochemical production.
