TAQA and JERA to develop industrial steam and electricity cogeneration plant for Saudi Aramco venture

Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC (TAQA), one of the largest listed integrated utility companies in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, together with JERA Co., Inc (JERA), Japan’s largest power generation company, announced on Thursday that they have entered into a Power and Steam Purchase Agreement with Saudi Aramco Total Refining and Petrochemical Company (SATORP), a joint venture company owned by Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco) and TotalEnergies.

Under the agreement, TAQA and JERA will collaborate to develop a greenfield industrial steam and electricity cogeneration plant that will produce electricity and steam for the Amiral petrochemical complex to be developed in Jubail in the Eastern Province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the companies said.

The Amiral petrochemical complex is expected to house one of the largest mixed-load steam crackers in the Arab Gulf region.

The Amiral cogeneration plant will include state-of-the-art power and steam generation systems, gas and water receiving systems, and gas insulated switchgear interconnections while at the same time meeting stringent efficiency standards imposed by the Saudi Energy Efficiency Center. The project also has provision for the future installation of a carbon dioxide capture plant and is capable of hydrogen cofiring, the companies said.

The Amiral cogeneration plant will be developed by a special purpose entity owned by TAQA (51%) and JERA (49%) on a 25-year build, own, and operate basis extendable by five years on mutual agreement. TAQA and JERA will also undertake the operation and maintenanceof the plant through an O&M special purpose entity, the companies said.

“The signing of the offtake agreements for the cogeneration power and steam project at the Amiral petrochemical facility, a key downstream project being developed by two of the world’s leading energy companies, demonstrates the confidence in TAQA’s ability to deliver critical utilities, including power and steam effectively,” Farid Al Awlaqi, Chief Executive Officer, TAQA Generation, said in a statement.

“Together with our partner JERA, TAQA is looking forward to developing an efficient cogeneration plant that reduces carbon emissions and supports SATORP with its long-term decarbonisation programme. The agreement will bolster TAQA's efforts in building on our growth and executing on our 2030 goals,” he added.

According to Steven Winn, Chief Global Strategist at JERA, the company is pleased to have signed the key project agreements for the Amiral Cogeneration Plant. “It is a major accomplishment for all project stakeholders. Together with our partner TAQA, we will be providing stable, highly efficient, clean and reliable power and steam to our customer SATORP. The Amiral Cogeneration plant will not only enhance the Amiral Complex’s operational efficiency, but also demonstrates our commitment to environmental stewardship and our growth ambitions for sustainable power generation solutions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the region,” he said.