It said this is the fifth lifting of diesel products since the refinery’s diesel hydrotreating unit attained Ready For Start-Up (RFSU) status in February, and subsequently achieved the first production of ultra-low sulphur diesel on Aug 9.

“The refinery, with a refining capacity of 300,000 barrels of crude per day, will produce a range of refined petroleum products, including gasoline and diesel that meet Euro 5 fuel specifications,” PRefChem said in a statement.

Additionally, the refinery will provide feedstock for the integrated petrochemical complex which has the nameplate capacity to produce 3.3 million tonnes per annum of petrochemical products.

The refinery and the integrated petrochemical complex are in the middle of start-up activities and expected to be in commercial operations by December, except the atmospheric residue desulphurisation plants.

Full commercial operations for PRefChem is targeted for the second half of 2020.

PRefChem is a strategic alliance between Petronas and Saudi Arabian oil company Saudi Aramco, through an equal partnership in two joint-venture companies.