Saudi Aramco Acquires Largest Oil Refinery in North America

Saudi Aramco’s global trading arm has bought US firm Motiva Trading. SPA
Saudi Aramco’s global trading arm has bought US firm Motiva Trading. SPA
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Saudi Aramco Acquires Largest Oil Refinery in North America

Saudi Aramco’s global trading arm has bought US firm Motiva Trading. SPA
Saudi Aramco’s global trading arm has bought US firm Motiva Trading. SPA

Saudi Aramco’s global trading arm has bought US firm Motiva Trading as it seeks to expand its footprint across North and South America.

As well as acquiring 100 percent of the firm, Aramco Trading Co. has also launched a Texas-based subsidiary – Aramco Trading Americas.

The new entity will be the sole supplier and ‘offtaker'of Motiva Enterprises, the owner of North America’s largest oil refinery with a crude capacity of 630,000 barrels a day of consumer and commercial grade fuels and base oils.

According to Aramco, ATA will be ATC’s regional office, expanding its trading business in North and South America to capture new opportunities and increase its existing customer base.

By allowing customers access to a sturdy hydrocarbon system, this is projected to bring about strength in the global value chain in the future, according to the statement.

“The acquisition of Motiva Trading and the establishment of Aramco Trading Americas are a giant step towards executing our ambitious global growth strategy, which aims to expand our geographical reach and scale of operations, while further strengthening our product flexibility and optionality,” said President and CEO of ATC Mohammed Al-Mulhim.

In another context, the Saudi oil producer has been involved in advanced discussions to take a stake of up to 20 percent in a previously announced Geely-Renault powertrain technology company that the automakers are working to establish, according to Reuters.

According to a document prepared by the companies and viewed by Reuters, the aim is to establish a powertrain company this year with a production capacity of more than 5 million "low-emission and hybrid engines and transmissions" annually.

The new joint venture - codenamed "Horse" - is aimed at developing more efficient gasoline engines and hybrid systems at a time when the focus of much of the automobile industry has been on the capital-intensive transition to purely electric vehicles.

Aramco would also contribute to research and development of powertrain technologies, especially synthetic fuel solutions and next-generation hydrogen technologies, the document said.

Last year, Aramco, Hyundai Motor Group, and KAUST announced they would collaborate to research and potentially develop an advanced fuel formulation for use in combination with a novel combustion system.

In another context, Aramco remains the most valuable brand in MENA in 2023, according to the latest report released by Brand Finance.

“We are very optimistic in terms of demand coming back to the market,” Saudi Aramco’s chief executive officer, Amin Nasser, said in an interview. “We are starting to see good signs coming out of China. Hopefully, in the next couple of months, we’ll see more of a pickup in the economy there.”

The world needs 4 million to 6 million barrels a day of new production just to make up for the natural decline in existing fields, according to the CEO.



Dell Drives Digital Transformation in Saudi Arabia Through 3 Decades of Innovation

Dell logos are seen at its headquarters in Cyberjaya, outside Kuala Lumpur in this September 4, 2013 file photo. REUTERS/Bazuki Muhammad/Files Purchase Licensing Rights
Dell logos are seen at its headquarters in Cyberjaya, outside Kuala Lumpur in this September 4, 2013 file photo. REUTERS/Bazuki Muhammad/Files Purchase Licensing Rights
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Dell Drives Digital Transformation in Saudi Arabia Through 3 Decades of Innovation

Dell logos are seen at its headquarters in Cyberjaya, outside Kuala Lumpur in this September 4, 2013 file photo. REUTERS/Bazuki Muhammad/Files Purchase Licensing Rights
Dell logos are seen at its headquarters in Cyberjaya, outside Kuala Lumpur in this September 4, 2013 file photo. REUTERS/Bazuki Muhammad/Files Purchase Licensing Rights

Saudi Arabia is leading the charge in digital transformation, with Dell playing a key role in the Kingdom’s technological growth over the past three decades.

The partnership between Dell and Saudi Arabia dates back to the early 1990s, and in the past 34 years, Dell has become a cornerstone of the kingdom’s digital infrastructure.

Adrian McDonald, President of Dell Technologies for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, reflected on the deepening of this relationship, highlighting Dell’s integration into Saudi society.

The company has been instrumental in supporting local businesses, government projects, and education initiatives, particularly by offering IT training programs in collaboration with leading universities and facilitating exchange programs that bring Saudi youth to the US for advanced training.

Dell aims to localize as many of these tech skills as possible, recognizing the growing demand for technology expertise in the future.

The launch of Saudi Vision 2030 has created a fertile environment for technological innovation.

McDonald revealed to Asharq Al-Awsat that Dell has expanded its operations over the past 18 months, including the establishment of its first integration and logistics center in Dammam, which handles up to 600,000 units annually to meet increasing customer demand.

The Dammam center also houses a secondary manufacturing plant to customize Dell servers to meet specific needs.

The facility prepares servers for deployment, reducing lead times and improving customer satisfaction. Additionally, Dell has moved its flat-panel display center to the Dammam facility, allowing for faster delivery times, which enhances operational efficiency.

This new center is part of Dell’s commitment to strengthening Saudi Arabia’s information and communications technology ecosystem and is the company’s fifth such facility in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa region, reinforcing its support for Vision 2030.

As Saudi Arabia positions itself as a leader in artificial intelligence (AI), Dell plays a critical role in this transformation.

McDonald highlighted the rapid changes in the AI sector, emphasizing Saudi Arabia’s goal to become a global leader in AI.

Dell’s investments are not just aimed at supporting local businesses but also at helping position Saudi Arabia as a global center for AI development.

Dell’s AI-powered solutions are transforming various industries, from finance to healthcare, where they are reshaping processes and driving innovation.

Looking forward, McDonald is optimistic about Saudi Arabia’s potential to become a regional and global hub for AI services.

He pointed out that the kingdom has taken a leadership role in building platforms for growth, with the resources and ambition to drive transformative change in the coming years.