Saudi Aramco has signed a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) with Honeywell and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) to advance a next-generation direct Crude-to-Chemicals (CTC) technology. The initiative focuses on scaling up the full CTC process to reduce both capital and operating costs, while enhancing efficiency and value extraction from crude oil.
Dr. Ali Al-Meshari, Senior Vice President of Technology Oversight and Coordination at Aramco, highlighted that the partnership strengthens the company’s commitment to innovation. He stated that the novel CTC process will improve energy efficiency, increase value from every barrel, and align with global shifts toward cleaner, high-performance chemical production. He also emphasized that the collaboration also supports ecosystem growth by delivering lasting benefits for stakeholders, communities, and the environment.
Honeywell
Honeywell UOP, a key partner in the collaboration, brings deep expertise in catalytic process design and commercial scale-up. Rajesh Gattupalli, President of Honeywell UOP, described the agreement as a milestone in the global evolution of CTC technology. Additionally, he noted that the outcome is expected to boost energy efficiency, lower emissions, and maximize the Kingdom’s resource utilization—helping secure its competitive position in the global petrochemicals market.
KAUST
KAUST plays a central role in providing scientific expertise and applied research capabilities to the project. Dr. Ian Campbell, Senior Vice President of KAUST’s National Transformation Institute, emphasized that impactful science must deliver real-world industrial solutions. By working closely with Aramco and Honeywell UOP, KAUST aims to accelerate the development of innovative CTC pathways that support Saudi Arabia’s innovation-driven economy.
According to KAUST’s statement, its involvement ensures a strong integration of research, design, and industrial development. Finally, the collaboration exemplifies how academia and industry can jointly accelerate technology readiness, advance national capabilities, and contribute to Saudi Vision 2030 goals of economic diversification and global petrochemical leadership.
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